Day: March 15, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The chief justices of the country approved on Friday the constitution of special benches for the disposal of cases related to condemned prisoners, juvenile offenders and female inmates within three months.

In a meeting presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Abdul Hameed Dogar, the chief justices of the Lahore, Sindh, Peshawar, Balochistan, Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir high courts also demanded the establishment of cells within high courts for regular fixation of the aforesaid categories of cases pending in the high and lower courts.

Expressing full confidence in Justice Dogar and extending their full support and cooperation to him, the CJs also discussed various issues confronting the administration of justice in the country. They said that measures should be taken to fill vacancies in all the high courts on urgent basis.

New jails: The construction of new jails, separate jails for women, improvements in the existing jails, establishment of courts in jails for trial of certain categories of cases and establishment of judicial lock-ups near court complexes were also discussed. The establishment and activation of a fund to pay ‘Diyat’ – fines on behalf of prisoners who are unable to pay the same – was also discussed. The judges also approved measures to discourage unnecessary adjournments and to dispose of terrorism cases along the lines of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the case of Sheikh Liaquat Hussain. They also agreed on periodic inspections of the subordinate courts by the judges of the high courts concerned and member inspection teams.s.

AJP status: According to a press release, the chief justices were also briefed on the status of the Access to Justice Programme (AJP). They were informed that the AJP had completed 468 schemes, while 188 more were still ongoing. Under the AJP, schemes had been initiated in the Federal Judicial Academy, Ministry of Law, Law and Justice Commission, Ministry of Interior, Supreme Court and Federal Shariat Court.

The committee was also informed that the AJP had allocated funds for the construction and renovation of courts, residences, prisons, jails staff offices, staff residences and police stations in all four provinces. They were told that the AJP had a total allocation of Rs 10,500 million out of which 9,020 million had already been utilised.

The details of Access to Justice Programme were provided to the chief justices for their perusal and feedback in the next meeting to be held shortly. The chief justices of Supreme Court and high court of AJK desired that AJP should be extended to their courts as well.
Source: Daily Times
Date:3/15/2008

KARACHI: A man allegedly gunned down his teenage daughter on Monday in the name of honour within the remit of the Shah Latif police station, officials said.

They said the man, Anwar Brohi, fired at his 15-year-old daughter, Farida, when she returned home in the Bhains Colony area.

“Area people informed the police about the incident,” said Sub-Inspector Mulazim Hussain, the SHO of the Shah Latif police station. “The suspect surrendered himself to the police when they reached the victim`s home. The suspect also handed over his unlicensed pistol to the police.”

Initial findings suggested that the suspect had asked the victim not to meet a certain youngster in the area, he added.

“The suspect is a rickshaw driver and says he killed his daughter in the name of honour,” said the area SHO.

Source: Dawn

Date:3/15/2011

By Afzal Ansari

KASUR: With the blood of his step-mother and first wife already on his hands, a milkman on Monday committed self-immolation after burning to death his second wife and four children. Police suspected it to be a case of honour killing.

The incident took place in the village of Garaywala where Shaukat Ali sprinkled petrol on his pregnant wife Parveen Bibi, daughter Fatima (9, from first wife), Misbah (6), Munir (3), and Naeema (18 months) when they were asleep late Sunday night and set them ablaze. The accused later killed himself.

Police said Shaukat had clubbed to death his step-mother Kaneez in the name of honour about 15 years ago, but his father had pardoned him. Seven years later he poisoned to death his first wife Uzma, but the matter was hushed by the family.

The charred bodies of the accused, his wife and four children were sent to the DHQ hospital for autopsy, but relatives refused to take any legal action.

According to SP Investigation Hashmat Kamal, an investigation was under way and it would be difficult to establish the motive behind the killings. But, he said, the possibility of honour killing could not be ruled out.

Source: Dawn

Date:3/15/2011

M. Waqar Bhatti

Karachi: A change in the mindset of Pakistani nation is required towards women as they too need equal rights to make Pakistan a developed and progressing country in the world.

“Pakistani women are not being given equal credit and rights as of men since the creation of the country. They are still being exploited and treated as second class citizens,” Asma Jahangir, President Supreme Court Bar Association, said in her keynote address at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) on Monday.

In her address on “The role of Pakistani women in nation building”, Asma Jahangir said that the women in Pakistan have been struggling since long time for equal credit and rights.

“Women are exploited, treated as second class citizens, but have continued to struggle and work for their rights,” she said and cited the example of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah who stood against dictator Ayub Khan.

She said that although Pakistan had the first woman prime minister in the Muslim world, the women have still been struggling and striving for their rights despite discrimination and marginalization at the hands of dominant gender.

According to her, nation building was only possible when there was a change in the mindset of the population and women being seen as equal citizens.

“Peace is also very important in this effort, and if there is intolerance a society cannot develop,” she said, adding that the main hindrances to nation building were poverty, injustice, and lack of education.

“If we can spend our resources in alleviating poverty and improving education, Pakistan will prosper,” she maintained.

In his inaugural speech, Director SIUT Prof. Adibul Hasan Rizvi said that in the perception of many a woman was only considered as a housewife, but this seminar would help highlight the ethical, social and economical aspects that cast impact on the lives of women.

“It is now time for us to work together in Pakistan for equal rights of woman,” he added.

In her welcome address, Chairperson CBEC (Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture) Prof. Farhat Moazam discussed the evolution of CBEC, saying that since 2006 this centre has produced 41 post graduates in biomedical ethics who have now been teaching ethics in different institutions of the country.

The four-day seminar on “Muslim Women: Through the Lens of History, Religion, Law and Society,” organized by the Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture, SIUT, will continue till Thursday that will be addressed by the scholars of national and international repute.
Source: The News
Date:3/15/2011