CJP takes suo motu of visually-impaired advocate's appeal

In another case, CJP refuses to withdraw his salary until PWD employees are paid

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday took suo motu of an appeal filed by visually-impaired advocate Yousuf Saleem, advising the Lahore High Court (LHC) to reconsider him for the post of civil judge.

The advocate filed a petition challenging the high court selection committee’s decision to turn him down for the post of a civil judge despite successfully clearing competitive examination. Taking notice of the appeal, Justice Nisar directed the selection committee to conduct a fresh interview with the candidate.

The 25-year-old topped his law examination and received a gold medal from the University of Punjab.

Justice Nisar observed that a visually-impaired person can hold the post of a judge if he meets all other qualifications. A press statement by the SC said that it “appears that in this case his fundamental rights under Articles 9, 14 and 25 of the Constitution, the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by Pakistan in year 2011, the 3% quota under the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981, and the jurisprudence developed by the Lahore High Court in PLD 2017 Lahore 406 and PLD 2017 Lahore 1 were not considered by the Lahore High Court.”

CJP refuses to withdraw salary until PWD employees paid

Expressing displeasure over the non-payment of salaries to Public Works Department (PWD) employees, the country’s top judge said he will not withdraw his salary till the employees are paid.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar made the announcement while hearing a case pertaining to the non-payment of wages to workers of PWD on Tuesday. He observed that a trend of not paying employees on the first of every month had been set.

Justice Nisar stated that his salary should not be deposited in his bank account till the workers confirmed their dues had been cleared. Addressing the additional registrar, CJP said it was an 'order'.