- Justice Shah emphasizes the importance of children’s voices in legal proceedings.
- “Children are an integral part of the present,” said the Senior Puisne Justice.
- It calls for the creation of child-friendly courts across the country.
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Saturday expressed disappointment at not being able to provide interpretation of laws due to his exclusion from the constitutional bench, which was formed after the recent judicial reforms, to deal with important matters.
The Senior Puisne Judge expressed his concerns while addressing an event related to detained children in Islamabad.
Justice Shah reflected on the implications of the situation, saying that Article 11(3) of the Constitution, which deals with the rights of children, requires interpretation.
“I can no longer provide this interpretation, but you can,” he said, pointing his remark at his colleague, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, who was also attending the session.
He also apologized for repeating the same thing, saying, “I’m sorry for continuing to bring this up, but what can I do?” I am not able to provide this interpretation,” he remarked.
Highlighting the responsibility of the judiciary in safeguarding the rights of children, Justice Shah observed that children are not only the future but also an integral part of the present, deserving immediate attention and justice.
He urged judges to prioritize listening to children when they appear in court, emphasizing the importance of their voices in legal proceedings. “We often listen to parents but don’t give children the chance to express themselves,” he said, advocating for inclusion in decision-making processes involving children.
He also called for the establishment of child-friendly courts across the country to ensure speedy resolution of cases involving children. He highlighted the role of the judiciary in addressing pressing issues such as cyberbullying, forced conversions, corporal punishment in schools and lack of facilities for children with special needs.
The apex court judge lamented the high number of out-of-school children in the country and outdated practices such as child marriages and harmful customs like ‘Vani’.
Justice Shah underlined the urgency of reform, saying: “Our justice system must do more for children – they are more important to us than ourselves. »
The veteran jurist, in recent times, has also raised the issue of constitutional bench and constitutional amendment several times in the past. The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, which does not include Justice Shah, was formed by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan in a split majority decision of 7-5.
He and Justice Muneeb Akhtar were the two judges who opposed the decision.
Most recently, Justice Shah also sought suspension of the JCP meeting until the issue of legislative amendments is resolved.