Daily Times

LAHORE: A full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday gave the authorities 10 days to shift the sessions courts of Multan back to its previous location.

The bench also ordered the Lahore High Court registrar to make all missing facilities at the new judicial complex available within three months.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and Justice Ijazul Ahsan reprimanded the LHC registrar, Khurshid Anwar Rizvi, for shifting the courts at the newly-constructed judicial complex without first providing all basic facilities at the site.

The bench held the registrar responsible for the blunder. It remarked, “We are surprised at your wisdom.” The bench was holding suo motu proceedings at the Lahore registry of the SC.

Addressing the registrar, the bench observed, “You brought us an incorrect report last night”.

The registrar was admonished ‘for misleading the authorities on the issue of shifting of the courts’. He was directed to submit reasons for the haphazard shifting of the sessions’ courts to the new complex.

Mr Rizvi’s explanation was cut short and he was asked to just answer questions posed to him.

The bench later asked the registrar what led him to decide to shift the courts to such a faraway location that lacked all basic facilities.

The CJP said that it had taken his official car more than 20 minutes from the city to reach the location. “The new complex lacks basic facilities needed by lawyers and litigants. There are no covered spaces for chambers, no facility for bar rooms, canteens and seating areas.”

The bench regretted that the sessions’ judge of Multan had also misled the apex court on the issue.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had earlier personally visited the site on Mattital Road. The representatives of the Pakistan Bar Council and many senior lawyers also joined him and apprised him about the problems faced by the local lawyers and litigants since shifting of the courts.

The suo motu notice was taken in the wake of protests by Multan-based lawyers. After the hearing ended on Thursday, lawyers distributed sweets to celebrate the verdict.

Published in Daily Times, December 22^nd 2017.