PESHAWAR, Oct 15: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan on Monday directed to upgrade the court’s human rights cell to a directorate in recognition to its services for protecting the fundamental rights of the weaker segments of the society.

The directions were issued during a meeting of the PHC administration committee comprising senior judges, including the chief justice, according to a news release issued here.

The release said the cell, which was set up in 2009, had successfully achieved its aims by protecting the basic rights of the people, who had otherwise no recourse due to poverty and complication of legal procedure.

It said the cell had so far received around 11,000 applications regarding violation of basic rights and of them, 10,000 had been disposed of by provision of relief to the applicants.

The release said upgradation would increase the cell’s performance to the benefit of the people.

Currently, Aamir Nazir Bhatti is the cell’s director (male) and Riffat Aamir director (female).