ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah on Thursday said the courts will continue to impart justice to the litigants no matter what happens.

Justice Minallah visited the district judiciary to observe whether social distancing policy evolved to prevent the spread of coronavirus was being implemented or not.

After completing the visit, he briefly spoke to the media persons and said the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed had categorically made it clear that the courts will continue to perform their functions even in the most difficult times.

He said the IHC granted bail to under-trial prisoners in accordance with the guidelines of the judgments of the Supreme Court, NJPMC as well as the policy laid down by the federal government. He visited all the courtrooms of the sessions division east and west. President district bar association Zafar Khokhar accompanied him during the visit.

Justice Minallah appreciated the judges for chairing their respective courtrooms despite the imminent threat of the outbreak of the virus.

The chief justice appreciated the lawyers and judges for working in such a hard situation and observing the social distancing policy.

The IHC on March 16 notified the social distancing policy according to which the district judiciary had been advised not to hear routine cases. Besides, the judges have also been directed to visit jail premises for granting/considering the bail matters and judicial remand of the accused persons.

In routine, police bring under-trial prisoners in packed vans to secure their judicial remand. The district and sessions judges have been asked not to fix cases other than those urgent in nature in the courts till April 5.

The district and sessions judges have also been asked to nominate a judge who will visit the jail premises to consider the bail applications of accused persons and remand of the under-trial prisoners, a circular issued by the IHC said.

It said cases of civil nature will not be fixed while lawyers and litigants should stay outside courtrooms until or unless their case is called for hearing.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2020