Delayed justice: PHC shows concerns over lawyers boycott

The boycott is the cause for delay in disposing cases, says PHC.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has expressed concern over lawyers’ boycotting proceedings of the court, terming it the cause for delay in disposing cases.

The PHC Chief Justice (CJ), Dost Muhammad Khan, said that lawyers should first refund the fees of their litigants so that they do not suffer financially.

CJ Khan was hearing an application filed by a former PHC judge, Jahanzeb Raheem, seeking to transfer his case to another court. Raheem questioned the neutrality of the civil court judge, Shiraz Firdous, arguing that the judge grew up under the care of Jahanzeb’s mother. He said that both families were neighbours and enjoyed cordial relations.

The case involves a property dispute between Jahanzeb and his mother, Dr. Hameeda Raheem. CJ Khan rejected the application stating that the judges were already overloaded with cases. In addition, the letter issued by Supreme Court of Pakistan to the subordinate courts has set September 30 as a deadline for disposing all pending cases. The CJ, however, directed Firdous to maintain neutrality and decide the case on merit. The member inspection team was also instructed to monitor case proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2012.