LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum reviews key matters at Justice Committee meeting

Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court and Chairperson of the Provincial Justice Committee, Aalia Neelum, presided over an important meeting of the Provincial Justice Committee to review matters relating to the judicial system, administration of justice, institutional coordination and reforms in the criminal justice system.

During the meeting, the Chief Justice directed the relevant authorities to implement prison reforms across Punjab within one month and ordered regular monitoring of progress. She expressed satisfaction over the establishment of women’s prisons in Lahore and two other districts of Punjab, describing the initiative as a significant step toward improving the welfare and management of female inmates.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum also appreciated the performance and services of Inspector General of Prisons Punjab, Mian Farooq Nazir, stating that he had carried out commendable reforms and delivered outstanding work prior to his retirement.

To enhance transparency and facilitate court processes, the Chief Justice directed the introduction of a system of verified powers of attorney (Wakalatnamas) in court lock-up facilities (Bakshi Khanas). She also ordered reforms in the collection of motorway fines, emphasizing that the payment mechanism should be made more transparent through digital transactions instead of cash payments.

The Chief Justice further instructed that emergency rescue response times on motorways should be reduced to the minimum possible level in order to save lives in the event of accidents. Relevant departments were directed to devise and implement an effective strategy in this regard.

A major focus of the meeting was the digital integration of criminal justice institutions. The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) was directed to develop a unified digital platform linking the police, prisons, prosecution departments, and courts across Punjab, enabling better coordination, information sharing, and case management.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum also directed that prosecutors be appointed in all courts currently lacking prosecutorial representation to ensure the effective conduct and prosecution of cases.

According to sources, Additional Inspector General (Investigation) Shehzada Sultan presented a detailed report on improvements in the investigation system, while heads of various departments briefed the committee on ongoing reforms and institutional performance.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Law and Parliamentary Affairs Punjab Asif Bilal Lodhi, Secretary Home Punjab Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi, Inspector General of Police Punjab Abdul Karim, Additional Advocate General Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz, Prosecutor General Punjab Syed Farhad Ali Shah, Director General Anti-Corruption Punjab Sohail Zafar Chattha, and DIG Investigation Punjab Shoaib Khurram Janbaz, along with other senior officials.

The participants also included the Secretary Prosecution, Secretary Finance, Secretary Communication and Works, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, Director General of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency, Deputy Director Rescue 1122, Secretary Planning and Development, and PITB Focal Person Jamal Ahmad, among other senior officers.

Concluding the meeting, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum directed all relevant institutions to strengthen inter-agency coordination, accelerate the adoption of modern technology, and take practical measures to ensure the timely and effective delivery of justice to the public.