Courts get special powers

The Ministry of Law and Justice has issued a notification giving special powers to the courts for trial under the Benami Act 2017.

According to the notification, special powers have been given to the district and sessions courts for Sindh.

For Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, special powers have been assigned to the courts of additional district and sessions judge whereas for Punjab, special powers have been given to court of additional district and sessions judges II.

Meanwhile, special powers have been assigned to the court of district and sessions judge and additional district and sessions judge I for Islamabad.

The jurisdiction of the special courts will cover all four provinces including Islamabad.

According to sources, chief justices of the provincial high courts and IHC had suggested the names for the special courts.

The Cabinet had approved giving the powers of special courts to the designated courts.

Trials will be conducted under Section 48 of the Benami Act 2017 in the special courts and will be completed within six months of the filing of complaints.