Urdu as official language: Top court calls for progress reports
Centre and provinces were given three months in Sept
PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The top court has ordered federal and provincial governments to submit progress reports on the steps taken for the introduction of Urdu as the official language. The authorities have been given a one-month deadline.
The three-judge apex court bench, headed by Justice Mushir Alam, took up contempt petitions on Thursday against the governments for not implementing the Supreme Court’s September 2015 verdict.
Urdu as official language: Supreme Court to hear contempt pleas against PM
The top court had directed the authorities to take measures for declaring Urdu as the official language, as envisaged under the Constitution.
Expressing his annoyance on Thursday, Justice Qazi Faez Isa said the court had given three months to the respondents for submitting the progress report but none complied with the order.
Punjab’s Additional Advocate General Razzaq A Mirza requested for more time, claiming the time given in the verdict was too short.
Justice Isa observed the court had asked for implementing its judgment but the Punjab government instead filed a review petition.
Justice Alam said all the law officers of the federation and the provinces had proposed this time frame themselves.
Our national dress is the shalwar kameez, not the niqab
Petitioner Kokab Iqbal requested the bench to issue contempt notices to the respondents but Justice Alam said the bench would decide on it after examining the progress reports.
The court then sought progress reports and adjourned the hearing for one month.
On September 8, 2015, the Supreme Court had ordered the Centre, as well as the provincial governments to coordinate with each other for uniformity in the transcript of the official language, and translate all laws within three months.
The judgment said the statutory, regulatory and oversight bodies shall take steps to implement Article 251 without unnecessary delays and also ensure compliance.
Pakistan to replace English with Urdu as official language
In court cases, the top court ordered, the government departments should make all efforts to submit their replies in Urdu to enable citizens to effectively enforce their legal rights.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2016.
The top court has ordered federal and provincial governments to submit progress reports on the steps taken for the introduction of Urdu as the official language. The authorities have been given a one-month deadline.
The three-judge apex court bench, headed by Justice Mushir Alam, took up contempt petitions on Thursday against the governments for not implementing the Supreme Court’s September 2015 verdict.
Urdu as official language: Supreme Court to hear contempt pleas against PM
The top court had directed the authorities to take measures for declaring Urdu as the official language, as envisaged under the Constitution.
Expressing his annoyance on Thursday, Justice Qazi Faez Isa said the court had given three months to the respondents for submitting the progress report but none complied with the order.
Punjab’s Additional Advocate General Razzaq A Mirza requested for more time, claiming the time given in the verdict was too short.
Justice Isa observed the court had asked for implementing its judgment but the Punjab government instead filed a review petition.
Justice Alam said all the law officers of the federation and the provinces had proposed this time frame themselves.
Our national dress is the shalwar kameez, not the niqab
Petitioner Kokab Iqbal requested the bench to issue contempt notices to the respondents but Justice Alam said the bench would decide on it after examining the progress reports.
The court then sought progress reports and adjourned the hearing for one month.
On September 8, 2015, the Supreme Court had ordered the Centre, as well as the provincial governments to coordinate with each other for uniformity in the transcript of the official language, and translate all laws within three months.
The judgment said the statutory, regulatory and oversight bodies shall take steps to implement Article 251 without unnecessary delays and also ensure compliance.
Pakistan to replace English with Urdu as official language
In court cases, the top court ordered, the government departments should make all efforts to submit their replies in Urdu to enable citizens to effectively enforce their legal rights.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2016.