June 12, 2006	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1427

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QUETTA, June 11: The government has, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, ensured an innovative, independent and flexible extra-budgetary support to judiciary by setting up Access to Justice Development Fund, according to Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of a workshop on ‘Access to Justice Development Fund: Orientation and Consultation.’ The event was organised by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

The chief justice termed the commission’s role in the judicial reform process central and said its effectiveness was confirmed when it was accorded an expanded mandate to ensure responsive, efficient and adequately resourced justice institutions.

“It (the commission) is also responsible for managing and administering the Access to Justice Development Fund. Its mandate also includes conducting research and operating a law awareness programme.”

The Chief Justice said that the National Judicial Policy-Making Committee also supplemented the justice sector reform process.

He praised the commission’s performance and said it was making effective efforts to promote legal awareness, especially among vulnerable groups.

Referring to the development fund, he said: “This fund represents a unique arrangement, which will also draw on resources for result-oriented investments in judicial training, development of legal education system and promotion of research in law and justice sector,” the chief justice said.

He said that main problems confronting the judicial administration were transparency and accountability, case management, delay reduction, automation and court information systems, human resources and infrastructure.

The chief justice said that without strengthening these crucial areas, all efforts for a strong and independent judiciary would remain meaningless.

“In order to address these issues, for the first time, a National Judicial Policy Marking Committee (NJPMC) has been constituted. The committee is mandated to ensure skilled and efficient judiciary through improving performance standards, rationalising terms and conditions of judicial functionaries and strengthening judicial statistics,” he said.

Earlier, the secretary of Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan and the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Pakistan made a presentation, highlighting measures recommended for strengthening the legal system.

Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court Mr Justice Amanullah Yasinzai, Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Mr Justice Iftikhar Hussain, Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court Mr Justice Tariq Pervez Khan, Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court Mr Justice Sabihur Rehman are among the participants.