RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Mian Saqib Nasir, here on Thursday said provision of speedy and inexpensive justice to people was the prime responsibility of bench and bar and reiterated that no injustice and discrimination would be meted out to anyone in dispensation of justice.

Addressing Districts Bars Associations KP during his maiden visit to Peshawar after assuming the office of Chief Justice of Pakistan at premises of Peshawar High Court, the CJP said active support of lawyers would immensely help in quick disposal of cases.

He further said justice should be properly weighted, measured and then dispensed adding one of the major qualities in a good judge was to listen every litigant, pay him proper attention and examine all available records before delivering judgment strictly on merit.

The CJP said he can’t alone reform the judicial system unless strongly supported by all the stakeholders including members of the bar and judges, adding we have to put our house in order to correct people’s perceptions about delay in justice.

“We have to support each other’s practically as mission of judges and lawyers are the same i.e. provision of speedy and inexpensive justice to all,” he said.

The CJP said a committee has been formed to reduce time period of litigations. Referring to his visit to KP’s Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, the CJP said he saw the suffering of patients in LRH and the same of the case with litigants who were suffering delay in justice.

The CJP also called for updating outdated and obsolete laws in consonance with present age requirement and said that it was not our duties to change the laws and its government responsibility to full fill it. He deplored that reformation of judiciary was at the bottom of the priority of the government.

“Is bringing amendments and updating laws such as old laws 1861, 1872 and 1908 was the responsibility of Supreme Court, which is certainly not” he said, adding the main duty and functions of Supreme Court were interpretation and enforcement of law. He said all citizens would be treated accordance to law and constitution and their rights would be fully protected. The CJP appealed for equal contribution from bar members towards his struggle to reform the judiciary and dispense swift justice to all. The CJP praised Supreme Court’s former Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and respect earned by him during tenure as Chief Justice, Peshawar High Court.

He recalled various instances when the senior judges attempted to give a proper farewell on retirement of Justice Dost Muhammad Khan but he refused for personal reasons.

The CJP stated that Pashtun people are very close to his heart and always respected them. Later, he administered oath to the newly elected President District Bar Association, Basharat Ahmed. Earlier, CJ Peshawar High Court, Justice Yahya Afridi welcomed the CJP. Earlier, a three-member bench of Supreme Court, CJP Justice Saqib Nisar, Justice Umar Ata Bandyal and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah heard different cases in Supreme Court Registry at Peshawar.