Pakistan Virtually Participates In SCO’s Chief Justices Meeting Hosted By India

Pakistan’s Supreme Court Justice Munib Akhtar virtually addressed the 18th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts held on Saturday (SCO).

From March 10 to 12, the Supreme Court of India is hosting the meeting of the Chief Justices and Chairpersons of the Supreme Courts of the SCO.

Pakistan had previously stated that it would not attend the meeting, with Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch citing “unavoidable commitments on the scheduled meeting dates.”

Baloch stated in her statement, “As one of the SCO’s active members, Pakistan regularly participates in all SCO activities and constructively contributes to their outcomes.”

“The Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan will be unable to attend the SCO meeting of Supreme Court Chief Justices scheduled for March 10-12, 2023, due to unavoidable commitments on the scheduled meeting dates. He has accordingly expressed his regrets to his Indian counterpart, who is the meeting’s current chair/host,” Baloch made the following statement.

India has also invited Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to the SCO foreign ministers meeting to be held in Goa this May. Pakistan has yet to decide whether or not to send its foreign minister.

In response to a media question during a press briefing on Friday, the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson stated, “Regarding participation in the upcoming SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, as I have previously stated, the matter is under consideration, and as and when this decision is made, we will share it with everyone,” according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.

“On austerity, as I stated previously, in accordance with the instructions of the Government of Pakistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also undertaking an exercise to comply with the austerity directives and is taking all necessary measures to reduce our expenses,” she added.

Prior to the summit, the Supreme Court of India issued a statement in which it stated that Chief Justices and Chairpersons of Supreme Courts from SCO member countries had been invited to attend. Smart Courts and the Future of the Judiciary; Facilitating Access to Justice; Institutional Challenges Facing the Judiciary: Delays, Infrastructure, Representation, and Transparency are likely to be discussed at the meeting.

The meeting will include a joint interaction with the Chief Justices, Chairpersons, Judges, and Representatives from the SCO Secretariat and SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), as well as the signing of a joint statement.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Supreme Court Judges Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph are among those representing India.