ISLAMABAD: Secretary of Law and Justice Raja Naeem Akbar rushed to the Federal Courts Complex (FSC) after a former judge of the Supreme Court (SC), Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, complained about the unhygienic condition of his new office in the complex. Justice Miankhel had assumed his office recently.

According to sources, the former SC judge expressed his displeasure over the lack of cleanliness and other issues in the complex. It may be mentioned that the lights of the complex are also out of order while there are no proper chairs or benches for litigants and visitors.

Last month, the federal government appointed retired Justice Miankhel, former chief justice of Peshawar High Court and ex-judge of the Supreme Court, as chairman of the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) for a period of three years.

CAT is situated in the building of the FSC. The other courts in the complex include the accountability courts, anti-terrorism courts, Control of Narcotics Substances, Special Court of the Federal Investigation Agency, Cyber Crimes Court, Environment Protection Tribunal, Intellectual Property Tribunal, Anti Dumping Court, and Drug Court.

The law secretary reached the complex and held a meeting with the judge. While leaving the complex, he directed the in charge of the building to fix the electricity issue and ensure proper cleanliness of the complex.

An official of the law ministry said the building was being managed by the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD), but the department was not taking responsibility for the repair and maintenance work.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought to streamline the affairs of these courts multiple times as judicial officers of these courts belong to the judiciary, whereas the law ministry’s staff is deputed in the complex for clerical work.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2023