QUETTA: The e-court system was formally launched here on Monday.

On the opening day, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa heard five constitutional petitions and cases through video link. The other members of the bench were Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Umar Atta Bandial.

Hearing through e-court system will continue till July 18.

In his opening remarks, CJP Khosa said it was a historic day for the people of Quetta and Balochistan.

The CJP said that he wanted to launch the e-court system from Quetta, but due to some technical reasons it was started from Supreme Court’s Karachi registry.

“After the court vacations a special bench will hear the cases through video link,” he said.

CJP Khosa thanked the National Database and Registration Authority for providing technical facilities. “By the e-court system time and money of people will be saved.” He said that after a while one special bench will hear cases especially through video link.

On Monday, the bench headed by CJP Khosa declared two-year sentence of Mushtaq Hussain null and void. However, the court asked the accused, who had injured a man, to pay a fine of Rs40,000 within one month. During the hearing, lawyers presented their arguments from the SC Karachi registry through video link.

Initially, the e-court system was available at SC Islamabad and Karachi registries. Now the apex court will also hear cases through video link from Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2019