‘No commutation protocol for the new CJP’

KARACHI:

The new Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Anwar Zaheer Jamali, has instructed the provincial government to ensure no inconvenience is caused to the citizens during his movements in the metropolis.

The judge had taken notice of inconvenience caused to the general public due to officials' movement in the city, sources told The Express Tribune.

The apex court's officer in-charge, Muhammad Amin Khan, wrote an official letter to the home secretary, asking him not to place blockades on the roads during the movement of the country's top judge in Karachi.

"Honourable Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, has noted with grave concern that due to his movement from airport to his residence the normal city traffic was disturbed throughout," read the letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune. "His Honour further observed that all almost all the intersections were closed and barricaded." As a result, huge lines of vehicles were halted, the letter added.

CJP Jamali requested that no barriers should be placed during his commutation and the traffic shall not be blocked, said Khan. "The general public should not bear any inconvenience," he wrote. "It is, therefore, requested that the aforesaid instructions of the Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan during his visits at Karachi may be complied with in letter and spirit," concluded the letter.

After taking oath, former CJP Jawwad S Khawaja had also refused to avail the official perks, privileges and protocol of his position.

By setting an example, Khawaja had also refused to sit in the Chief Justice's chamber and did not accept the plot alloted to him by the government. He had also invited his subordinate staff to attend his oath-taking ceremony at the presidency.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2015.