Latest news with #MuhammadSalimKhan
Express Tribune
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CJ's NOC now mandatory for SC judges' travel
Supreme Court judges are now required to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) prior to travelling abroad under newly issued regulations that have prompted concerns within the legal fraternity regarding judicial autonomy. The direction follows a recently promulgated Presidential Order by President Asif Ali Zardari — titled Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2025 — through which paragraph 14 of the President's Order 2 of 1997 has been amended. According to the amended provision, the Chief Justice has been granted explicit authority to approve or deny leave, whether domestic or foreign, as well as revoke or curtail any previously approved leave for judges of the apex court. Following the presidential directive, the Supreme Court Registrar, Muhammad Salim Khan, issued a general standing order outlining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will now regulate judges' leave and travel. The issuance of these SOPs has raised eyebrows in the legal fraternity. Some lawyers suggest that the new framework appears aimed at controlling judges, particularly those who voice concerns about the judiciary at events held outside the country. "Travel restrictions per se do not conflict with judicial independence provided they are purely administrative, applied fairly and operate within the judiciary's internal framework, not under the executive control. In the instant case, the purpose seems to be supervisory, not administrative," former additional attorney general Tariq Mahmood Khokhar said. "It is potentially a tool for control and, or intimidation. Judicial independence means independence in decision-making, but judges' travel restrictions can violate independence if permission is used selectively or punitively or under executive interference," he added. Khokhar warned that the amendment lacks adequate safeguards against abuse.
Business Recorder
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Ground-breaking ceremony of Public Facilitation Centre at SC held
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has broken ground on a dedicated Public Facilitation Centre designed to place litigants and citizens at the very heart of judicial service delivery. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Chairman of the Court's Building Committee, performed the ceremony in the presence of the chief justice of Pakistan, fellow justices, the attorney general for Pakistan, representatives of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and officers from the Capital Development Authority (CDA), NESPAK, and the Supreme Court administration. Speaking on the occasion, the chief justice underscored that 'litigants are the pulse of judicial reform,' stressing that every touchpoint must be respectful, seamless, and located 'under one roof.' He noted that while many services already exist, their dispersion across different wings had burdened the visitors. The Centre will therefore consolidate filing counters, certified-copy desks, information kiosks, and facilitation booths into a single, citizen-centric hall, supported by modern technology integration such as biometric queue management, self-service e-kiosks, and real-time case-status displays. The registrar, Muhammad Salim Khan, highlighted that the project originated from Justice Mandokhel's vision to remove physical hurdles and create an accessible interface between the public and the Court. The NESPAK architects presented a brief overview of the design, which features barrier-free access, a digital helpdesk, and a comfortable waiting lounge. The CDA has committed to establishing a dedicated bus stop and shuttle connection, ensuring smoother transit for visitors arriving from across the capital. Appreciating the Building Committee's milestone achievement, the chief justice expressed confidence that the Centre will 'translate constitutional promises into everyday convenience,' reaffirming the Supreme Court's resolve to harness technology for faster, fairer, and more transparent justice. He announced that the Public Facilitation Centre is scheduled to be completed within two months, marking one of the fastest civil-works turnarounds in the court's history. Construction begins immediately, with phased service migration planned to minimise any disruption to ongoing court business. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
