ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Mian Abdul Rauf Atta has declared the police encounters carried out by the Punjab Crimes Control Department (CCD) as extra-judicial killings and termed them a severe violation of the law.
To prevent this, he demanded that the higher judiciary of Punjab introduce a policy ensuring the completion of criminal case trials within 7 to 15 days.
Talking to journalists on the premises of the Supreme Court here on Wednesday, Rauf Atta also rejected the recent restrictions imposed on lawyers’ entry into the administrative block of the Supreme Court building and demanded that the main entrance of the Supreme Court be opened for both lawyers and ordinary citizens.
“Around the world, courts are open to lawyers and the general public, but in Pakistan, even lawyers are facing restrictions on entering the Supreme Court,” he added.
He said that in other countries, citizens feel a sense of security when they enter the courts, which is why they are open to everyone, whereas here, the process of frisking begins as soon as one enters, creating an atmosphere of fear.
He stressed that the doors of the highest court of justice should be open to everyone, and the recent restrictions are a major obstacle to justice.
He further said that the Constitution demands the provision of justice at the citizens’ doorstep.
Regarding the increase in court fees, he mentioned that suggestions have already been submitted to the chief justice.
