During his 40-minute stay, Justice Nisar expresses satisfaction over cleanliness at the facility. PHOTO: TWITTER
A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, was hearing a suo motu case on the transfer of judicial complex in Multan at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry.
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Justice Nisar directed the LHC registrar to ensure all missing facilities are provided at the Multan Judicial Complex within three months.
Just a month back, the district administration had shifted all records of the Multan district courts to the new judicial complex. However, lack of basic facilities has propelled the Supreme Court to order shifting of the Multan district courts back to its previous location.
During Thursday’s hearing, LHC Registrar Syed Khursheed Anwar Rizvi and District Judiciary’s Director General Akmal Khan appeared before the court.
On the court’s query, Rizvi said he had personally visited the judicial complex in Multan and asked the court to allow him to explain the position.
The CJP, who also personally visited the judicial complex on Wednesday, observed, “No need for explanation as we have personally visited the site… just answer the queries. You brought me wrong information last night.”
The top judge asked him why the courts were shifted to the judicial complex in a hurry when there were no requisite facilities. “Couldn’t you see [that] when you visited the place?” he said, admonishing the registrar. “You misled the chief justice about the judicial complex.”
Justice Nisar said that the complex was constructed in fields far away from the city and there was neither any canteen for lawyers nor any proper place for them to sit. He exclaimed, “Who will be responsible if any rickshaw driver took a female lawyer to some other place instead of the complex!”
Expressing anger over the shifting of the session and district courts to the new judicial complex located on Matital Road from Katchery Road, he said, “The convoy took 20 minutes to reach the complex… what about the lawyers and common litigants.”
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The CJP then directed the registrar to examine the pictures of the complex. Rizvi viewed the pictures in haste, which irked the CJP further, and he remarked, “Heavy electric wires are hanging over the newly built complex… there is a huge gap between the doors of the courts and no tree has been planted.”
Holding the LHC registrar responsible for the issue, the CJP remarked, “It is astonishing.”
The bench ordered the registrar to make all missing facilities at the new judicial complex available within three months.
The CJP directed the shifting of the Multan district courts to old Katcheri Road within 10 days during winter vacations. The hearing was adjourned for an indefinite period.
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