Judges’ address: Govt should extend courts’ jurisdiction to FATA: CJ

Peshawar High Court’s Chitral Bench to be inaugurated on September 3.

PESHAWAR: The government should extend the jurisdictions of the Supreme Court and the high court to the tribal areas, said Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, while addressing ex-cadre judges at an annual dinner on Thursday.

He also requested the government to provide protection to judges of the Anti-Terrorism Courts.

In his speech, the chief justice said that credible leadership is a basic requirement for democracy to prevail. “Its (the nation’s) safe sailing depends upon the captain. If the captain is dishonest, he will never be able to take the ship to the coast.”

Due to corruption in government departments, people are now looking towards the courts for justice which is increasing burden on the judiciary, he said.

Despite amending the Frontier Crimes Regulations, the law and order situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas has negatively affected the youth, he said, adding “they carry guns instead of books in their hands.”

Khan also announced to inaugurate the PHC’s Chitral Bench on September 3. A draft bill for Justice on wheels (mobile courts) will also be tabled in the provincial assembly after being approved by the provincial cabinet.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2012.

down against auto-rickshaws was launched, so we hope that this attempt to curb the use of unregistered motorbikes is also successful,” said Zia.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2012.