FHC to start functioning by end of this month: Afzal
By Khalid Amin

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Law and Justice Afzal Haider said Monday that the Federal High Court would start functioning from the last week of this month after completion of legislation process and administrative formalities. The Chief Justice as well as judges of the Federal High Court (FHC) will be appointed directly and lawyers belonging to the Federal Capital will be given preference in this regard, the Minister told media persons in the press room of the Supreme Court.
Responding to a question about name and status of the Federal High Court, the Minister said that the proposed name of Federal High Court is being replaced by Islamabad High Court with its status equal to the four Provincial High Courts. He dispelled the impression being created by some lawyers that all the cases related to the Federal Government could only be filed in the Federal High Court and said that cases could only be filed in the concerned High Court “where cause of action falls, whether in the jurisdiction of any Provincial High Court or the Federal High Court or where the petitioner lives”.
The Minister said that all the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, who were invited for oath, did take oath under PCO. Only four judges, two from Lahore High Court and two from the Peshawar High Court, did not take oath despite being invited.
He said all those judges who did not take oath under PCO had ceased to hold office.They were no longer judges and notifications in this regard had already been issued. Regarding status of deposed judges, he said that a special package was under preparation for giving benefits to them and legislation in this regard was being processed.
Vacant posts of judges in the Supreme Court as well as in the High Courts would be filled soon, he said. To a question about lifting of emergency, he said it would be done by December 15 or before. Asked if judges would take a fresh oath under the constitution after the lifting of emergency, he said when emergency is lifted they could be deemed to have taken oath under the constitution or they could take a fresh oath. Both options were under consideration, he added. The Minister said so far 5,754 detainees including political workers, lawyers and others, had been released. He said only three lawyers—Tariq Mehmood, Aitzaz Ahsan and Ali Ahmed Kurd - were still under detention but due to his efforts they had been shifted from jails to their houses.
The Minister said he had personally visited Tariq Mehmood and enquired about his health and medical treatment. He dispelled reports that the lawyer was not receiving required medial treatment and other facilities.
Afzal Haider said the prime objective of the caretaker government was to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. He said the democratic that gained strength as a result of the completion of the terms of the assemblies for the first time in the country’s history due to sincere efforts of President Pervez Musharraf.