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.
