DAG to submit reply over state of judicial complex

IHCBA holds federal government responsible

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted an extension to the Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Tayyab Shah for submitting a reply over a lack of facilities at the judicial complex.

A single-member bench of the IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah presided over the case on Wednesday. The IHC Bar Council (IHCBA) counsel Advocate Shoaib Shaheen told the court that the federal government had only submitted the report prepared by the special courts’ registrar.

IHCBA President Haseeb Chaudhry remarked that the government is not giving any importance to either the lawyers or the court, adding that the government is responsible for the condition of the judicial complex.

The court asked if the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar has visited the Islamabad court or the judicial complex. The IHCBA counsel replied that the government did not contact them after the last hearing. Justice Minallah remarked that the court would send the matter to the federal cabinet.

Furthermore, DAG Shah mentioned that he would submit the government’s response in a week. Justice Minallah commented that one should look at Islamabad to learn the priorities of the state. He maintained that the judges are demanding facilities not for themselves but for the litigants.

IHCBA counsel shared that the complex does not have accommodation facilities for the judges either. He stated that the prime minister should be summoned and questioned over it. He further added that the rentals of the courts in the judicial complex were unpaid as the issue is under adjudication for over a year while the court adjourned the case until February 9.

During an earlier hearing of petitions filed over the lack of facilities in the district and family courts of the federal capital and non-payment of rent for courtrooms established in a commercial plaza, Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that it seems everyone responsible has shut their eyes to the state of the district kuchery.

He added that the condition of the courts has become appalling over the past four decades.

The court stated that the authorities have paid no attention to the condition of the district courts since its establishment in 1980.

Usually people from the middle and lower-income groups visit the district courts, he said, adding that the executive will learn about its condition if only they visit it.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2021.