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Bar bodies fully back CJ, 21-point agenda

MEHMUD AHMED

ISLAMABAD: The various bar associations and leaders of the Pakistan Bar Council have put their weight behind Chief Justice Irshad Hassan Khan and Chief Justices Committee's 21-point agenda to tune up the administration of justice and clear the huge backlog of cases.

In a unanimous resolution passed after a marathon sessions here on Saturday morning, prominent lawyers from across the country called for united effort by the judiciary and bar to "alleviate the sufferings of the litigant public" by cooperating with judiciary in implementation of its 21-point crash programme.

The meeting was attended by the elected representatives of the bar on the associations and the provincial and central councils, and was briefed by Chief Justice Irshad Hassan Khan about the decisions of the Chief Justices' Committee held a week ago, with which they agreed but emphasised the need for regular consultations with the bar. The meeting also called upon their peers to formulate suggestions for further improvement in the administration of justice to be considered by next conclave of Chief Justices.

Addressing the assembly of elected representatives of the bar on one formal platform, Chief Justice Irshad Hassan Khan reposed his firm belief in a strong bar and independent judiciary, saying that these were inseparable, interlinked and intertwined and none could function without the support and protection of the other.

The Chief Justice said that, by an large, people were neither satisfied with the work and conduct of the legal fraternity nor with the judiciary, and expected more and much more and "in fact, great deal more" from the bench and the bar.

He reminded his audience that dispensation of justice was an attribute of God Almighty and the legal profession was a noble one practised by the Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The people appointed by God for dispensation of justice failed to perform their sacred task. They might escape accountability in this world but not in the world hereafter.

The Chief Justice also reminded his audience of the Quranic injunctions on the rights of orphans and widows, and said that keeping those in view he and his colleagues had taken upon themselves the "herculean task" of dealing with their cases and suits for administration of estates of the deceased property and other small matters on priority basis.

He said that he and his colleagues wished to attain desired objectives in the shortest possible period of time and hoped that the members of the bar would support the 21-point programme and make determined efforts to attain the desired objectives in the shortest possible period.

Before concluding, he told the prominent lawyers that despite his commitments to the judicial duties, he would be convening meetings of similar nature to "evolve a strategy for resolution of all problems concerning bench and the bar".

Prominent among those who spoke at the open session expressing their support to Chief Justice Khan were Abdul Haleem Pirzada, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Mohammad Naeem Goreja, Vice-Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, Vice Chairmen of the Provincial Bar Councils of the Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Lahore and Presidents of High Courts' Bar Associations of Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Bahawalpur, Hyderbad, D I Khan, Quetta, Abbottabad and Peshawar. At the same time they emphasised the need for keeping the legal community in full confidence on the measures for reforms and speedy disposal and independence of judiciary.

APP adds:

The Chief Justice assured the lawyers that the Chief Justices Committee in its next meeting would consider their proposals for expeditious dispensation of justice.

"Give us your proposals in this regard so that we could discuss it in our next Chief Justices Committee's meeting," the Chief Justice said.

The representatives of PBC and High Courts Bar Associations proposed that without increasing the number of judges at lower level it would be an uphill task to dispose of the backlog of cases.

The Chief Justice assured them of Bench's full cooperation and asked them to give their proposals in writing.

The CJ said: "By temperament, I am a uniter and not a divider. I want the Bench and the Bar to be united in strengthening the system of administration of justice in vogue in Pakistan. With this object in view, Committee took some modest decisions for clearance of backlog and speedy dispensation of justice."

He said it was heartening to note that the media as well as people from all shades of life have, by and large, appreciated the declarations made by the Chief Justices Committee.

"But," he said," the people want practical results and not mere slogans and sermons. The Bench and the Bar shall work in unison with a view to alleviate the sufferings of the litigant public."