A three-member delegation comprising of Ms. Ayesha Pirzada, Counselor US Embassy, Islamabad, Mr. Justin H. Allen, Consular Officer US Consulate Lahore, and Mr. Abdul Waheed Khan, Supervisory Consular from American Citizen Services Unit, USA visited Punjab Judicial Academy on May 7, 2024.
The delegation was received by Mr. Ashtar Abbas, Director Administration, along-with Mr. Saboor Ahmad Khan, Addl. Director. Thereafter, formal meeting was convened in the office of Mr. Abdul Sattar Hon’ble Director General, PJA. Mr. Ashtar Abbas, Director Admin, also attended the meeting.
Mr. Justin H. Allen, briefed regarding the standard operating procedures on the Hague Convention and shared his views pertaining to processing of potential cases under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
The DG, PJA while discussing the SOPs of Hague Convention for Child Abduction, pointed out that its implementation needs to be channelized as per The Hague Convention agreement through competent authority. He said, as the Pakistan is a signatory to The Hague Convention and is already following the SOPs, however for more effective implementation, better / effective communication needs to be established between the stakeholders.
The meeting was held in a very cordial and conducive environment discussing various aspects of The Hague Convention and judicial system in Pakistan.
During the meeting Ms. Ayesha shared documents titled a) “The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction- Legal Analysis by International Parental Abduction” b) “Pakistan’s Implementation of the Hague Convention on Parental Child Abduction – A Success Story” and c) “Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, outline HCCH 1980 CHILD ABDUCTION CONVENTION” and judgement of Hon’ble Sindh High Court, Karachi, (C.P No.S-678 of 2022, M. Faraaz Shaikh vs Ms. Javeria Shahani & Others) and judgment of Court of Civil/Family Judge & Judicial Magistrate-III, Malir, Karachi, (G & W Application No. 20 of 2022 (Javeria Shahani vs Mohammad Faraz H. Shaikh & Public at Large etc.). She informed that the “West Pakistan Family Court Act, 1964”, in schedule, Rule 6-A has been added with regard to Hague Convention.
Concluding the meeting, it was unanimously decided to meet frequently to discuss matters of mutual interest to carve way forward, the delegation thanked the Director General for taking out time for the meeting. Thereafter a group photograph was taken and the meeting ended with a vote of Thanks.
For pictures, please click here.