- Says every citizen equal under constitution
LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Sunday said that the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) seemed to be the only solution to cases backlog in the country.
He was speaking at the concluding session of second three-day Punjab Women Judges Conference, organised by the Punjab Judicial Academy here.
The chief justice said, “If model courts are not at the cost of delaying ordinary litigation and providing privilege to those who need it and not those who don’t, then we should embrace them as a need of the day.”
He added that “we’re lucky [because] we are governed by a written constitution; this constitution enshrines fundamental rights, and if we go through the relevant chapter, those fundamental rights make no discrimination [between] male or female.”
He added that the constitution of Pakistan bestows equal rights to every citizen.
He said that, unfortunately, in rustic societies, there might be situations where women were not treated well. “But in the cities, I feel that women are in quite better condition,” he added.
He said that there was no difference between a civil judge first class and a Supreme Court judge. Both are meant to dispense justice according to the law, and no one can do it according to his own will.
The CJP said that being the father of the institution, he would advise every judge to know the law and apply it in letter and spirit.
He congratulated Lahore High Court chief justice for highlighting the issues related to gender-based violence cases (GBVCs) and gender sensitivity. He appreciated the efforts made in conducting courses and training.
LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and other judges, Registrar Syed Khurshid Anwar Rizvi, District Judiciary Director General Muhammad Akmal Khan, Punjab Judicial Academy Director General Mahrukh Aziz and other judicial officers were also present.
Addressing the audience, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that violence faced by women took physical, verbal, psychological and economic forms. He encouraged women judges to fight against elements which perpetuated violence against women. He further said that 1.2 million court cases were being heard in the province of Punjab.
He acknowledged the need for better access to justice for women through impartiality in adjudication, and reaffirmed his commitment to equality and non-discrimination for all judges—irrespective of gender.
The LHC CJ also appreciated Justice Ayesha A Malik for organising the second successful conference and thanked the donors, including EU, UNODC, ADB, WB and Asia Foundation.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah shared with the participants the figures of the cases decided by the ADR centres and model courts.
Justice Ayesha Malik of the Lahore High Court discussed recommendations put forward by speakers, and inspired women judges to encourage a women-friendly non-discriminatory environment within their courtrooms.
