Highlighting the importance and scope of environment Chief Justice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Muhammad Azam Khan on Saturday showed concern for the protection of environment and enforcement of existing environmental laws in the country.
He expressed these views during the certificate awarding ceremony of a one week training course on gender sensitisation with special focus on family laws and environment laws. Referring to jurisdiction and powers of Green Courts for senior civil judges and judges of the family courts from all over Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan at the Federal Judicial Academy, he said, “The situation requires all of us to save and conserve nature leading to sustainable development in Pakistan. To achieve this it is important to implement existing laws without fear, favor or discrimination. If laws are not followed it would cause us and the future generations with adverse consequences.
He said, “Recognising the importance of environment, Pakistan has signed many international conventions, treaties and legislation and has also made efforts to harmonise local laws with international laws
He said, “Recognising the challenges of sustainable development and sustainability of natural resources, the Supreme Court of Pakistan with the support of Asian Development Bank, UN Environment Program, and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) organised a conference on environmental justice at Bhurban, highlighting environmental issues. It was in the light of Bhurban declarations, green benches were constituted in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
Furthermore, he said, “Judiciary in Pakistan has developed a large jurisprudence of public interest and a number of tools and mechanisms have been put in place to adjudicate upon the environment litigation in its true sense. Environmental matters are usually technical and complex in nature. These led to adopt the tool of appointing commissions to investigate the issues and make recommendations. Environmental tribunals and green courts may also appoint commission for proper and just adjudication of environment cases before them.”
Hashim Abroo, spokesmen of the academy, said that the chief guest gave away certificates to the trainee judges.