The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa judiciary banned the use of mobile phones by staff and other employees in district and subordinate courts during official working hours.
Under the new instructions, all staff members will be required to submit their mobile phones to a designated officer or official during court hours.
According to a circular issued from the office of Peshawar High Court Registrar Muhammad Zaeem Khan, all district and sessions judges have been directed to ensure that court staff do not use mobile phones during duty hours.
The circular stated that, in addition to earlier instructions issued by the Peshawar High Court, all staff working in district courts must deposit their mobile phones with the concerned branch in-charge or head during working hours.
The phones will remain in the custody of a designated officer.
The circular further directed that in case of any domestic emergency, staff members may use landline telephones instead of mobile phones.
Strict implementation of the instructions has been ordered. The decision was taken after complaints were received about the use of mobile phones by some employees during court proceedings.
