IHC orders Practice and Procedure Rules made public in 48 hours

Islamabad High Court Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Wednesday ordered that the High Court’s Practice and Procedure Rules be uploaded on the court’s website within 48 hours and that copies be provided to the Islamabad High Court and district bar associations.

The directive was issued during a case hearing when the court asked a lawyer about the Practice and Procedure Rules. The petitioner’s lawyer said he was unaware of the details of the rules and was submitting an application to obtain them.

“We framed those High Court rules which we ourselves did not receive,” Justice Kayani remarked. “I am a judge and I did not receive them, how would you receive them?”

The judge noted that although the full court had approved the rules, they had not been made public. “The Practice and Procedure Rules are a secret document,” he observed.

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Justice Kayani directed the lawyer to write to the registrar to obtain the rules. When the lawyer said he had contacted the Ministry of Law and would also submit an application, the judge expressed concern over delays.

“If there is any document here, the registrar does not provide it for three months at a time,” he said.

Emphasising his order, Justice Kayani said, “I have directed that the rules be uploaded on the website within 48 hours.” He warned that criminal proceedings could be initiated if the order was not implemented and said he would summon the registrar if required.

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When the lawyer requested the next hearing be fixed for January 29, the judge responded, “I do not know whether I will be here on the 29th or not.” The court later adjourned the hearing.