Pilot project: LHC launches evening court in Lahore

Project aims to protect children from disturbing sights of handcuffed criminals

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Anwaarul Haq has launched an evening court as a pilot project aimed at protecting children from an atmosphere where criminals are present to attend proceedings in different cases.

The theme of setting up the ‘evening court’ is to ensure that when children come to the court, they may not have to see disturbing scenes of handcuffed criminals. It is an effort to keep the children away from an atmosphere of panic.

The LHC chief justice took the decision to set up the court for hearing family cases and those related to child custody and to provide them a secure atmosphere so that they could feel better in evening hours rather than in the morning when courts are overcrowded.



According to a notification, the pilot project has been initiated from Lahore and the ‘evening court’ will work from 2pm to 7pm. The project will be extended to 36 other districts if required for expeditious decision of family cases under the West Pakistan Family Courts Act, 1964 and the Guardians & Wards Act, 1890 to secure the welfare of the minors and protect the best interest of litigant public.

Some litigants also complained about the congested meeting room where children are allowed to meet their parents. The parents also demanded installation of new swings, slides and other essentials near the courts where their children could play.

They also called for a shop where children could be taken to and given a freehand for buying what they want, on their own.

It is pertinent to mention that for the first time in the history of the country, such a step has been taken. If the objective of the measure is accomplished, it could gain prominence and be adopted by other courts throughout the country.