Judges asked to enforce existing environmental laws
Islamabad - Highlighting the importance and scope of environment Chief Justice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muhammad Azam Khan on Saturday said that there is need to be more concerned about the protection of environment and enforcement of existing environmental laws in country.
He expressed these views in the certificate-awarding ceremony of a one-week training course on “Gender Sensitisation with special focus on Family laws and Environment law with special reference to Jurisdiction and Powers of Green Courts etc.” For Senior Civil Judges/ Civil Judges/ Judges of the Family Courts from all over Pakistan including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit -Baltistan here at the Federal Judicial Academy.
He said, “This situation requires all of us to save, approach and concern about nature and make sustainable development in Pakistan. To achieve this, we need to get it sensitized, interpret and enforce the existing environmental laws in their true perspective and spirit, without fear, favor or discrimination. Inverse to this may cause us and even our coming generations, vulnerable to the adverse consequences.”
He said, “Recognizing the importance of environment, Pakistan has signed many international conventions, treaties and environmental laws and has also participated tharmonize the local laws with the international one.”
He said, “recognizing the challenges of sustainable developments and sustainability of natural resources, the Supreme Court of Pakistan with the support of related international bodies such as Asian Development Bank, UN Environment Program, and IUCN, organized a conference on ” Environmental Justice” at Bhurban , Muree , on 24th -25 th March, 2012, which the highlights the environmental issues. It was in the light of bhurban declarations green benches were constituted in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.”
“Judiciary in Pakistan has developed a large jurisprudence of public interest environment litigation and with these developments a number of tools and mechanisms have been derived to adjudicate upon the environment litigation in true sense.
Environmental matters are usually of technical and complicated nature. These led to adopt the tool of appointing commissions to investigate the issues and make recommendations.
Environmental Tribunals and Green Courts may also appoint Commission for proper and just adjudication of environment cases before them,” he maintained.
Hashim Abro spokesmen of the Academy said that Chief guest gave away certificates to the trainee judges.
Source: The Nation Pakistan