Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Azmat Saeed on Friday sought a detailed report by March 8 from the district and sessions judge about procedural constrictions in the workings of the guardian courts, which are currently arranging just two hour long bi-monthly meetings between minor children and their divorced mothers or fathers.
A petition was filed by lawyer Tariq Nawaz at the LHC contending the faulty procedure of the two-hour meetings. He said the courts were creating psychological problems for the minors and parents, who were undergoing painful experiences under the current system.
The petitioner requested the court to pass directions for the formulation of new guidelines to arrange such meetings, so that children might meet their separated parents in calm environments without any haste to cut the meetings short. He also requested the court to constitute a committee comprising psychologists to devise improved methods that would protect distressed families suffering from stress and psychological complications.
Upon hearing arguments by the petitioner’s counsel, the CJ appointed former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Asma Jahangir and lawyer Shahzad Malik to help the court in the proceedings, by suggesting options for improvements in the system for guardian court meetings between separated children or parents. The court will resume proceedings on March 8.
