Category: Legal

Punjab Governor Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar says supremacy of rule of law in the country is top priority of government.

Talking to media in Lahore today (Tuesday), he said there will be no compromise on security and sovereignty of the country.

The Governor said Prime Minister Imran Khan is pursuing a policy of making Pakistan strong and prosperous in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain has asked bar associations to play their role for early disposal of cases in courts.

He was talking to a nine-member delegation of newly elected office bearers of Supreme Court Bar Association in Islamabad.

The Information Minister said the lawyers should provide guidance on national matters and supremacy of law and constitution.

The Information Minister said we will also welcome the role of lawyers and bar associations on important legislation including electoral reforms and NAB ordinance. He said instead of challenging NAB ordinance, reforms should be suggested to the government.

The Information Minister said the government is taking every possible step for the welfare of lawyer’s community.

Source: Radio Pakistan

As per the unofficial results of the Supreme Court Bar Association election 2021-22 Independent Group candidate advocate Supreme Court Ahsan Bhoon has been elected as a president.

According to the details, Bhoon bagged 1,390 votes where as Professional Group candidate Sardar Latif Khosa got 813 votes.

Source: Radio Pakistan

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior took up on Friday the multi-billion rupees corruption scandal in HASCOL and stressed the need for expediting the probe into the case and devising a system to ensure speedy justice.

A meeting of the Senate panel was held at Parliament House with Senator Mohsin Aziz in the chair. The meeting was attended by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Senator Fawzia Arshad, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed, Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood, Senator Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, and senior officers from the Ministry of Interior, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the Punjab Police.

In the meeting, Chairman Senator Mohsin Aziz took up various Suo Moto notices. Besides, the committee also discussed the cases referred to it by other sources.

With reference to the multi-billion rupees HASCOL corruption scandal, the committee stressed the need for expediting the investigation into the case and devising a system to ensure speedy justice. It was of the view that the law enforcement and intelligence agencies must identify the assets of the accused and ensure that they are not disposed of or transferred.

The committee asserted that it was observed in most cases that after garnering a hefty amount, a settlement of five percent of the embezzled amount was made. “This must be strongly discouraged,” the committee emphasized. The committee stressed the need to disclose the names of big wigs involved in the case and put them on the Exit Control List. It issued directions for a detailed briefing in this regard within two months. The same decision was made in the case of financial bungling in the Caymen Islands against a major bank in Pakistan.

The FIA and the Punjab Police briefed the committee on the cases that were referred to them by the committee. They also informed the committee of the challenges facing them in terms of funding and scarce human resources. The FIA stressed the need for revamping the Agency in order to handle the pendency of cases. The committee emphasized that a mechanism to ensure timely reportage and case disposal must be devised.

The committee was of the view that tenure security must be provided to ensure progress on cases as this was the only way to improve the system of justice in the country.

The committee also discussed the suicide case of a human trafficking suspect and expressed concerns over the possibility of custodial killing. It recommended an in-depth investigation into the matter.

About the case of the issuance of fake identity cards, the committee was informed that 103 aliens were identified. Besides, it was told, out of 41 nominated persons, 22 officials including 11 from NADRA had been arrested, and an investigation was being conducted. The committee was of the view that in such cases law enforcement must initiate crackdowns on facilitators.

The committee discussed the case of overstay of a Somalian national in Islamabad, and it was informed that her visa had been extended. The committee directed that details of the case must be reviewed minutely and a report be submitted.

In the Suo Moto case of the viral video of a dog attack on a poor balloon-selling boy that was initiated deliberately by the dog owner, the committee stressed that the case must be referred to the court was of the view that if no concrete development was seen. It was asserted that laws needed to be amended to ensure speedy justice.

Regarding the case of sectarian violence in Daska on a procession on the occasion of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), which was referred to the Committee by Chairman Senate, the committee listened to the stakeholders and watched the video. The Punjab Police identified certain issues that contributed to the attack. The committee was of the view that nobody could be left free to attack a human being in such a way. Amidst a high-security risk, the processions must avoid new routes to ensure remaining within the ambit of security forces assigned for this purpose, the committee stressed.

The Punjab Police was directed to probe the case thoroughly and ensure that the accused were taken to task. The committee ordered an inquiry against the Station House Officer present at the attack site.

The committee considered the cases related to age-old animosities and stressed the need to beef up ‘human intelligence’ for proactive action.

Source: Pro Pakistani

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to PPP leader Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah in a case assets beyond means.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, heard Khurshid Shah’s bail application.

The Supreme Court, however, ordered to keep Khurshid Shah’s name on the Exit Control List.

It also directed the PPP leader to submit bail bonds of 10 million rupees.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed said on Wednesday that the Sindh government does not even have the capacity to appoint a Vice-Chancellor of a university.

He made these remarks while hearing a petition pertaining to the implementation of the decision regarding the appointment of the VC of People’s Medical University Nawabshah in the Supreme Court Karachi Registry.

The apex court had directed the appointment of the VC in October last year. However, petitioner Dr. Shamsuddin’s counsel apprised the court that the candidates are being interviewed today.

“It is unfortunate for Sindh province that the incumbent government cannot even appoint a vice-chancellor. The real problem is that they want to appoint a person of their own interest.”

He said that the committee formed to appoint the VC cannot make new rules after the Supreme Court order.

The court reprimanded the Sindh Attorney General for the delay and ordered the appointment of the university’s vice-chancellor within two months.

CJP Gulzar said that strict action would be taken if the court order was not implemented within the stipulated time.

Dr. Shamsuddin had filed a petition with the Supreme Court for his inclusion in the appointment process. On his petition, the court in October last year had ordered the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the varsity and directed to complete the proceedings under the earlier advertisement for the post.

Source: Pro Pakistani

As per directives of the Prime Minister, Higher Education Commission (HEC) will organize an e-Kachehri on 21st of this month on HEC Research Grants.

HEC Executive Director Dr. Shaista Sohail will respond to the queries during the e-Kachehri.

More details are available on HEC Social Media platforms.

Source: Radio Pakistan