February 19, 2006	Sunday	Muharram 20, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: The UK-Pakistan Judicial Forum on Child signed an understanding on the ‘UK-Pakistan Protocol on Children Matter’ following negotiations between the delegations from the two sides on Saturday.

The understanding was signed at the Royal Courts of Justice, London, in the panel session meeting of UK-Pakistani judiciary, said a statement issued here.

The chief justice of Pakistan, other members of the visiting delegation, president and judges of International Family Division, high courts of England and Wales witnessed the ceremony.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and his delegation held a meeting with Lord Justice Thorpe, the head of International Family Law, and other senior members of the UK judiciary and discussed different aspects to make the protocol effective.

The meeting addressed points of concern and identified areas for improvement by agreeing to take a number of steps.

They emphasised that there was a need for appropriate measures by the governments of the UK and Pakistan to formalise the protocol and incorporate it into domestic legislation, where necessary.

It further agreed that clear administrative procedures were required to initiate litigation in Pakistan following a reference to the liaison judge, especially as the court had no jurisdiction suo motu.

It was agreed that administrative arrangements needed to be put in place in both the countries to facilitate the implementation of the protocol.

They agreed that a registrar of specialist children practitioners in each of the provincial capitals in Pakistan be compiled. A reciprocal list would also be supplied.

That a register of NGOs in Pakistan would be drawn up in order to facilitate the work of UK-based organizations working on child abduction cases. A reciprocal list would also be compiled for the UK.