LHC to have more judges than ever in its history
Gen (r) Musharraf had raised the number of judges to 60 during his tenure.
Last week, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan approved the elevation of eight judges for the Lahore High Court. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
After the proposed elevation of eight additional judges, the number of judges at the Lahore High Court will rise to 52, the highest ever.
The legal fraternity has appreciated the move saying it will reduce the number of pending cases. Under the national judicial policy, courts have been trying to resolve old cases on priority. As a result, recently filed cases get ignored. Appointing more judges will help dispense timely justice. Last week, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan approved the elevation of eight judges for the Lahore High Court. It is now up to the parliamentary committee to take a decision on these appointments.
The previously sanctioned number of LHC judges is 50, but former president Gen (r) Musharraf had raised it to 60. The seats he created have never been filled, but after these new appointments, the total number of judges of the LHC will be the highest it has been in the courts’ its history.
Cancellation of case
Last week, the Punjab government requested the Lahore High Court to drop a case against Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique. The cases had been registered against him during the Musharraf era. The Prosecution Department filed an appeal stating that the Lohari Gate police had registered two cases against Rafique in 2004. The prosecution said that the cases had been politically motivated and no witness had testified in them so far. The court was requested to restrain the trial court from holding proceedings on the cases and direct the police to drop them.
Pakistan Cricket Board
Last week, the LHC sought a reply from the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi and others on a writ petition by former chief selector/chairman of the national selection committee Muhammad Ilyas against his termination. Ilyas said he had been appointed chief selector during former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf’s tenure. He said after Ashraf’s dismissal through an Islamabad High Court judgment, his (petitioner’s) contract was not extended without lawful justification. He said the new interim-management of the board headed by Najam Sethi held a grudge against him.
PTI
The LHC sought a copy of the notification for enforcement of the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 on a petition by the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf challenging some provisions of the law. The court then adjourned hearing till March 10. Justice Shahid Waheed of the LHC was hearing the petition filed by PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry.
The petitioner said, following the Lahore High Court’s judgement declaring party-less elections illegal, the Punjab governor, on the behest of the chief minister, amended Section 22 of the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 through the Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance whereby the Election Commission of Pakistan was mandated to appoint district returning officers, and assistant returning officers. But the amendment restricted appointment of district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers from amongst Punjab government officials. This rule did not apply to officials from the other provinces or federal departments. He said this provision should be declared illegal.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2014.
After the proposed elevation of eight additional judges, the number of judges at the Lahore High Court will rise to 52, the highest ever.
The legal fraternity has appreciated the move saying it will reduce the number of pending cases. Under the national judicial policy, courts have been trying to resolve old cases on priority. As a result, recently filed cases get ignored. Appointing more judges will help dispense timely justice. Last week, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan approved the elevation of eight judges for the Lahore High Court. It is now up to the parliamentary committee to take a decision on these appointments.
The previously sanctioned number of LHC judges is 50, but former president Gen (r) Musharraf had raised it to 60. The seats he created have never been filled, but after these new appointments, the total number of judges of the LHC will be the highest it has been in the courts’ its history.
Cancellation of case
Last week, the Punjab government requested the Lahore High Court to drop a case against Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique. The cases had been registered against him during the Musharraf era. The Prosecution Department filed an appeal stating that the Lohari Gate police had registered two cases against Rafique in 2004. The prosecution said that the cases had been politically motivated and no witness had testified in them so far. The court was requested to restrain the trial court from holding proceedings on the cases and direct the police to drop them.
Pakistan Cricket Board
Last week, the LHC sought a reply from the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi and others on a writ petition by former chief selector/chairman of the national selection committee Muhammad Ilyas against his termination. Ilyas said he had been appointed chief selector during former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf’s tenure. He said after Ashraf’s dismissal through an Islamabad High Court judgment, his (petitioner’s) contract was not extended without lawful justification. He said the new interim-management of the board headed by Najam Sethi held a grudge against him.
PTI
The LHC sought a copy of the notification for enforcement of the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 on a petition by the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf challenging some provisions of the law. The court then adjourned hearing till March 10. Justice Shahid Waheed of the LHC was hearing the petition filed by PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry.
The petitioner said, following the Lahore High Court’s judgement declaring party-less elections illegal, the Punjab governor, on the behest of the chief minister, amended Section 22 of the Punjab Local Government Act 2013 through the Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance whereby the Election Commission of Pakistan was mandated to appoint district returning officers, and assistant returning officers. But the amendment restricted appointment of district returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers from amongst Punjab government officials. This rule did not apply to officials from the other provinces or federal departments. He said this provision should be declared illegal.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2014.