ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Peshawar High Court (PHC) Ishtiaq Ibrahim on Thursday said the judicial system would be best served when we safeguard the dignity of litigant public who come for the realisation of their rights enshrined in the Constitution.

He was speaking at a certificate awarding ceremony on the conclusion of a four-day “Faculty Development Program for Judicial Academies - Training of Trainers” at the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) here on Thursday.

He said, “Litigants deserve respect. We all are here for them. Our judicial system is for them. They should not be in a state of fear. We all are public servants. We must be responsive helpers. We have to create conveniences for them, not inconveniences at all levels,” he said.

The PHC chief justice added, “We must strive to change mindset for them and such trainings are crucial to change mindset.”

Says we have to create conveniences for them, not inconveniences, at all levels

He called for reforming laws and taking revolutionary institutional steps more compatible with modern challenges so that the rights of the litigants were not compromised at any level in the system.

Una Kelly, First Secretary, Rule of Law, European Union Delegation to Pakistan, spoke about the ‘Deliver Justice Project.”

She said, “The EU supports reforms to ensure the delivery of people-centred justice, access to justice for all, particularly women and less privileged groups; and improve service delivery of the security sector in line with constitutional safeguards and international standards. It is implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan,” she said.

Ms Kelly termed FJA the best resource to achieve the desired reforms in the justice sector in Pakistan, including capacity building, criminal justice system.

Appreciating the commitment and interest of the participants in the training of trainers, she thanked the UNDP, UNODC, UN Women and also sounded her optimism for mutual cooperation with the Federal Judicial Academy in the days ahead.

In his welcome speech, FJA Director General Ali Shah Hayat appreciated the international partners to make the four-day activity a reality in which faculty members, both permanent and adjunct, from each of the provincial judicial academies and the FJA benefited.

“The objectives of Rule of Law can only be gained if we train the judicial officers properly with the aim that they will ensure the rule of law,” he remarked.

Chamila Hemmathagama, Programme Manager UNDP, in her vote of thanks acknowledged the contribution of the academy and all international partners who worked hard to make this activity happen and devotion and dedication of the participants in the training.

In the end, the PHC chief justice awarded certificates to the representatives from the judicial academies.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2024