Special courts for FIA notified

LAHORE
To tackle with the pendency issues faced by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved setting up of two more Special Courts (Central) at Lahore, The News has learnt.
After the approval of the prime minister, the federal ministry has issued a notification of establishing two more special courts (central) under the Pakistan Criminal Law Amendment Act 1958 (Act No XL of 1958) on August 11, 2015.
Special Courts, according to the notification, a copy of which is available with The News, shall function on the premises designated by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights, Islamabad.
Previously, Lahore had only one Special Court (Central) dealing with FIA related cases of Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) and anti-corruption. The lone court was overburdened with around 2,000 cases pending with it. The court had to deal with the cases of FIA relating to Lahore, Okara, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Nankana Sahib Districts under one roof.
But, with the establishment of these two new courts, the cases of Okara and Kasur will be transferred to Special Court (Central-II) and cases pertaining to Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib Districts will be transmitted to Special Court (Central-III), reads the notification.
Interestingly, the demand of more courts was put forward to Federal Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan during his visit to FIA’s Headquarters on October 22, 2014. The FIA Director General had submitted to the minister that due to shortage of courts/judges and deficiencies of legal officials of the FIA, more than 10,000 cases were pending in various courts. The DG had requested the minister for notifying more special judges in Lahore and Gujrat as well as up-gradation of Inspector Legal to Assistant Director Legal at the earliest.
Agreeing with the proposal, Nisar Ali Khan directed Joint Secretary Ministry of Interior to finalise these issues at the earliest.
A senior FIA official, deals with legal matters, on the condition of anonymity, told The News Thursday that directions of the interior minister had started bearing fruits as recently all the Inspector Legal of the FIA had been upgraded as AD Legal. He said after upgrading legal officers, setting up of new courts would help a great deal to FIA in tackling with pending cases which were around 2,000 pending with special judge (Central-I). An official of the Law Ministry told The News that after preliminary arrangements, including sitting places and appointment of other related staff, the Lahore High Court would send three names of sessions judges against each slot to the ministry which would notify one among each of them as special central judge. He said the whole process could take two to three months after which these courts may start working accordingly.
When contacted, Director FIA Punjab Dr Usman Anwar told The News that the much-awaited request of the FIA had been fulfilled regarding establishment of more special courts in Lahore. The recent move, he said, would help a lot in improving overall performance of the FIA.