Delivery of justice: Asma opposes posting of high court judges in home provinces

Activist says SC judges lack courage to hear cases tried by military courts

GILGIT: High court judges should not be posted in their home provinces and must instead be posted to other provinces to ensure the delivery of justice. This was said by former president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and rights activist Asma Jahangir.

She expressed these views while addressing lawyers in Gilgit on Saturday. Asma emphasised on the need to resolve long-standing constitutional issue that plague G-B. “This is in the best interest of Pakistan as it will strengthen the country,” Asma said.

According to the right activists, lawyers should strive to amend the Constitution to allow the people of G-B to enjoy constitutional, economic and political rights.

“We will force government to do this,” she added. She also urged the government to compensate people who have given up their property for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Asma criticised Supreme Court of Pakistan, saying judges lack the courage to hear cases tried by military courts.

“The continuity of the system is important even though we do not like the rulers,” the rights activist added.

The former SCBA president regretted Awami Workers Party leader Baba Jan was sentenced for political activism and said she was closely monitoring his case.

Without legal backing

On the occasion, senior lawyer Mir Akhlaq said the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009 lacked legal backing. “That is why neither the government nor the judiciary is independent,” he added.

Senior lawyer Amjad Hussain, who is also president of Pakistan Peoples Party in the region, said there was no means protecting G-B’s interests in CPEC. “If there are territorial disputes, how will CPEC pass through G-B?” he questioned. The event was also addressed by senior lawyer Ehsan Ali, Malik Kifayat and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2016.