ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad High Court Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Wednesday ordered that the High Court’s Rules of Practice and Procedure be uploaded on the court’s website within 48 hours and that copies be provided to the Islamabad High Court and the district bar association.
The directive was issued during a case hearing when the court asked a lawyer about the Rules of Practice and Procedure. The petitioner’s lawyer said he was unaware of the details of the rules and filed an application to get them.
“We drafted these High Court rules which we did not receive ourselves,” Justice Kayani observed. “I am a judge and I did not receive them, how would you receive them?”
The judge noted that although the full court had approved the rules, they had not been published. “The Rules of Practice and Procedure are a secret document,” he noted.
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Justice Kayani directed the lawyer to write to the registrar to get the rules. When the lawyer said he had contacted the Ministry of Justice and would also file an application, the judge expressed concern about delays.
“If there is any document here, the registrar does not give it for three months at a time,” he said.
Underscoring his order, Justice Kayani said, “I have asked that the rules be uploaded on the website within 48 hours.” He warned that criminal proceedings could be initiated if the order was not implemented and said he would summon the registrar if required.
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When the lawyer requested that the next hearing be set for January 29, the judge replied: “I don’t know if I will be here on the 29th or not.” The court later adjourned the hearing.
