Superior judiciary allows overseas Pakistanis to record statements through video link

Meeting of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) was held under the chairmanship of CJP Jawwad S Khawaja

ISLAMABAD: The superior judiciary decided on Monday to amend laws allowing overseas Pakistanis to record their statements through video conferencing in court proceedings and electronically filing their cases.

A meeting of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) on Monday, under the chairmanship of new Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, considered different issues relating to administrative issues facing dispensation of justice in the country.

The meeting was attended by Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Salman Aslam Butt, Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi, Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Mazhar Alam Khan, Chief Justice High Court of Balochistan Muhammad Noor Meskanzai, Chief Justice High Court of Sindh Faisal Arab, Chief Justice Lahore High Court Manzoor Ahmed Malik, Secretary Ministry of Law Muhammad Raza Khan, Mohammed Sarwar Khan.

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After deliberations, the commission asked the AGP to identify laws which require amendments for consideration of the commission.

The commission also reviewed the number of complaints received and decided upon by judicial officers and court staff.

After reviewing the existing monitoring mechanism, the commission resolved that there was a need to conduct diagnostic studies, formulate M & E frameworks and automation of justice sector to improve the quality of justice delivery and strengthening the monitoring mechanism.

The AGP agreed to support the LJCP for conducting the studies.

Having assessed the role of inspection judges, members inspection team (MIT) and district & sessions judges (DSJs) with regard to monitoring the performance of subordinate courts, the chairman observed that inspection judges had critical role to ensure dispensation of quality justice, therefore, they should hold monthly meetings with the district and sessions judges to share their experiences for strengthening the monitoring and supervision of subordinate courts.

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Later on, the chairman asked high courts to devise monitoring and evaluation frameworks for strengthening the functioning of DSJs, MITs and inspection judges.

Eventually, the commission reviewed the performance of LJCP, in particular its support to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in matters of public importance