LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to identify and register unclaimed children.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah passed this order on a petition seeking a legislation for identification/registration of unclaimed children. A Nadra official told the court the authority had registered 27 such children.

The judge directed the authority to make a list of Islamic names for the registration of unclaimed children. The judge sought a progress report from Nadra by Jan 26.

PRISONERS: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday allowed time to ministries of foreign affairs and interior to submit replies on a petition challenging the government’s failure to protect its citizens from imprisonment in Gulf States and executions in Saudi Arabia.

Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), a non-profit law firm, filed the petition on behalf of affected families.

A standing counsel on behalf of the respondent ministries appeared before the court and sought time to come up with replies. The court granted the request and adjourned hearing till Dec 26.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2014