IHC CJ directs adviser to apprise PM of plight at courthouses

Shahzad Akbar says no dispute over power with interior minister

ISLAMABAD:

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah directed the adviser to prime minister on interior Shahzad Akbar to visit the district courts and the Federal Judicial Complex and report the prime minister about their problems.

During a hearing of cases of delay in provision of justice, the chief justice noted that the common man who went to the district court had never been a priority. He pointed out that the working conditions in the district court is very poor.

Adviser Shahzad Akbar, Islamabad Advocate General Niazullah Niazi, Deputy Attorney General Syed Tayyab Shah, Islamabad Bar Council member Adil Aziz Qazi, presidents of the Islamabad High Court and district bar associations and other lawyers appeared before the court.

Akbar informed the court that he had briefed the prime minister about the issues of the Islamabad court. However, the chief justice told Akbar that since he was also the adviser on accountability, he should visit the accountability courts to see the conditions there.

Accountability courts are under pressure and understaffed. The judges even do not have the stenos to give dictations, he said, adding that the Supreme Court has said that cases will be heard on a daily basis and the judges are ready to work day and night but the executive needs to cooperate with them.

Shehzad Akbar said that an advisor does not have the executive authority, he can only give advice. He assured the court that every effort would be made to improve the working condition of the special courts. The chief justice said that work environment was very important.

Chief Justice Athar Minallah also sought a report on the administrative control of the Federal Judicial Complex. Lawyer Shoaib Shaheen told the court that no one was ready to take responsibility of the complex. The chief justice said that there was no space for judges in the district courts.

The chief justice also said that there were many complaints of land grabbing, adding that it does not happen without the involvement of revenue officers. He noted that there is no cheap and quick justice available to the people, adding that the governance system had become corrupt.

Shehzar Akbar said that a report had been submitted in the court, adding that he had given a briefing to the prime minister and also informed him about the situation regarding crimes and other issues in Islamabad. The court hoped that the prime minister would pay attention to the judicial forums.

During the hearing, the courtroom burst into laughter when a lawyer took off his mask to address the court, the chief justice stopped him from doing so, telling him about the Covid standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“The adviser to the prime minister is here, he can impose fine,” the chief justice told the lawyer. However, in a ighter vein, Adviser Shehzad Akbar quipped “we can only give advice.” On this reply, everyone in the courtroom laughed.

The president of Islamabad High Court Bar Association said that the federal government should give a time frame for the High Court Lawyers Complex. Akbar replied that the authorities would see to the priorities of the bar after shifting of the High Court to the new building.

The court said that an encroachment mafia holds sway over an area of 1,400 square miles. Land grabbing involves everything from revenue officers to police officials, he said, adding that misgovernance had made it difficult for the courts to function.

District courts are working in private commercial buildings. There was damage in the earthquake but the owners are not being paid the rents so how could they carry out the repairs. He added that the deputy commissioner submitted a report regarding the occupation mafia.

The court directed the interior affairs adviser to look into the suggestions of the deputy commissioner and adjourned the hearing with the above directions.

Talking to the media-persons after the hearing, Shehzad Akbar said there was no dispute over powers with Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, as the court had settled this matter. “Sheikh Rashid is the minister, he has the powers. We are advisers,” he added.

Responding to a question about Senate Deputy Chairman Salim Mandviwala’s recent statement, he said that everyone was respectable and Mandviwala was also respectable to him. However, he added: “If you don’t like the law, you can change the law,” he said.

In response to another question about former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s return, the adviser said that requests for both deportation and extradition had been made and now it was up to the British government to decide.