LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice (CJ) Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Tuesday inaugurated a special court to deal with cases of children – first of its kind in Pakistan.

The purpose of establishing the special court was to protect the innocence of children from negative impacts of litigation before traditional courts, the chief justice said on the occasion. He said: “We cannot let the children ruin their lives in courts.”

He said a separate waiting area was also set up for counselling of the under-trial children by students of Punjab University’s psychology department.

The CJ revealed that soon a special court for senior citizens would also be established in Lahore. Previously, a special court for women had been set up, he added.

He further said these pilot projects would be extended to other districts as well. He thanked local and international stakeholders for their support in the establishment of the court. Initially, 80 cases involving children had been transferred here.

Senior puisne judge Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali, Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan, Justice Aalia Neelum, District and Sessions Judge Abid Qureshi and representatives of the bar were also present at the event.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2017