Govt forms special courts for lawyers’ protection across country

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Saturday announced the formation of special courts in Islamabad and all four provinces to ensure the protection and welfare of lawyers.

A notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice in this regard stated that these “special courts have been designated powers under the Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act, 2013”.

The decision was notified in consultation with the Chief Justices of respective High Courts, the notification read.

According to the notification, the courts of Additional District & Sessions Judges of Civil Districts & Sessions Divisions (East) & (West) in Islamabad will be granted the judicial power to oversee these special courts.

Moreover, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, “the senior most Additional District & Sessions Judge and Senior Civil Judge (SCJ) (Admn) and where the SCJ (Admn) is not available, then the SCJ (JUDL) of that district shall be designated to try offenses falling within respective jurisdiction”.

In Punjab, the courts of Additional District & Sessions Judge- and Senior Civil Judge (Criminal Division) of each District will have powers designed under the aforementioned act, the notification read.

The courts of Additional District & Sessions Judge-1 of each district in their respective jurisdiction have been designated with special courts’ power in Sindh, as per the ministry’s notification.

Additionally, in Balochistan, all the Sessions Judges, Additional Sessions Judges, and Judicial Magistrates of the province’s District have been conferred with the powers to oversee special courts, made for lawyers’ welfare and protection.