CJP takes suo motu notice of sexual harassment of women at PIMH

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday took suo motu notice of sexual harassment of women at Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH), ARY News reported.

The chief justice formed a two-member commission, comprising senior lawyers, to examine overall situation at the hospital and submit a compliance report.

The commission comprised of Advocate Ayesha Hamid and Zafar Kalanauri.

In his remarks, Justice Nisar said he had visited the hospital a long time ago, adding that he has come to know that women are sexually harassed there.

“It is not a medical facility, but jail,” he observed. Moreover, he added, male staffers tend to female patients being treated at the hospital.

The chief justice also summoned a report from the provincial government on appointment of the PIMH director.

Earlier today, the CJP took notice of appointment of Touqeer Shah, the former principal secretary to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as Pakistan’s ambassador to World Trade Organization (WTO). 

The chief justice, who headed a two-judge bench of the apex court, took cognizance of the matter during hearing of a number of cases at the Lahore registry.

He directed Mr Shah to appear on next hearing to explain his position in this regard and sought a complete record of his appointment from the Secretary Establishment Division.

The court remarked it is said that the judiciary is interfering [in the affairs of the executive], adding that the court will see how transparent the process of his appointment as the country’s ambassador to WTO was.