Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed said on Friday that the judiciary was manipulated in the past for personal interests. He stated that it would not be allowed to happen again as the lawyers’ movement has changed the judicial norms.
He was speaking to lawyers at the Alhamra Hall during the oath-taking ceremony of the Lahore Bar Association office bearers. The chief justice said the courts in Punjab were overwhelmed and revamping the legal system was necessary. He stated that 85 percent of the country’s total backlogged cases were being heard in Punjab. He said the province is facing a shortage of judicial officers, adding that a Punjab civil judge hears 1200 cases as compared to the 250 cases heard by their counterparts in Khyber Pukhtanukhwa. Saeed said in order to end the disparity, judicial officers will be recruited through a phased programme.
The CJ said: “Nations cannot survive without investing in human resources. We have started capacity building programmes that impart vigorous in-service training.” He added that the High Court judges were also provided the opportunity of attending a mediation seminar organised by the UK’s Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution. The Chief Justice praised the Lahore Bar for voluntarily training lawyers. He reminded the newly inducted office bearers that they had taken the oath to promote the rule of law and supremacy of the judiciary. He said the oaths should be upheld at the cost of sacrificing personal considerations. The chief justice said daycare centers would be established at the Aiwan-i-Adl and Lahore High Court Principal Seat to facilitate female lawyers. He stated that IT facilities will be provided to judges and lawyers to allow them to access their e-mails and other applications at all times.
Justices Umar Ata Bandial, Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Sagheer Ahmad Qadri, Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Punjab Judicial Academy DG Justice Tanvir Ahmad Khan and LHC Registrar Sohail Nasir were also present on the occasion. Minister directs strict implementation of labour laws : Provincial Labour Minister Haji Ehsaan-ud-Din Qureshi directed field labour officers on Friday to ensure the implementation of the labour laws, especially those in place for the protection of female workers’ rights. The minister was talking to female workers’ delegations. He gave directions for the timely payment of wages, the provision of safe atmospheres for working women, pension and old age benefits, social security rights, educational and marriage grants and the elimination of gender discrimination. He issued instructions to the officers to adopt measures for preventing and combating child labour and bonded labour. He said the Punjab Government is implementing various projects for providing modern education and residential facilities to labourer’s children.
