No doubt number of pending cases increased
Our Correspondent Lahore
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed made clear on Saturday that protecting the fundamental rights of the citizens was the judiciary’s constitutional duty, and failing at it meant violating the oath.
The country’s top judge was addressing a seminar ‘Role of Judiciary & Legal Fraternity in the Improvement of Justice System’ organised by the Punjab Bar Council at its office in Lahore.
CJP Gulzar Ahmed disareed with the claim of Advocate General Punjab Ahmed Awais who, during his speech, claimed that he did not see the people’s fundamental rights being protected in our society.
Awais had further maintained that the government had failed to protect the basic rights, and if things remain unchanged then ultimately the legal fraternity will come forward to ensure the protection of those rights.
Justice Gulzar said he did not agree with the opinion, but adding that if the time came to that then the judiciary will fight against the situation. Furthermore, the CJP urged lawyers to put a stop to the ‘culture of adjournment’.
“[Adjournments] make sense if there is an extreme cause, otherwise there should be no need to request for an adjournment,” he added.
“There is no doubt that the number of pending cases has increased,” Justice Gulzar said, adding that there were several reasons behind it, Covid-19 being one of them; and some others which could not be discussed on this occasion.
The litigants suffer a lot if cases will continue to remain pending and adjournments given, the CJP said. He also pointed out the matter of frivolous litigations, a practice that he said needed to end.
Justice Gulzar expressed displeasure at the condition of district courts province-wide, and directed Chief Justice Lahore High Court Muhammad Ameer Bhatti to seek a report from his inspection judge on it.
Speaking on the matter of judge’s appointment, the CJP observed that the judicial commission had now become independent and the times when judges gave dictation to it over appointments have gone. “Everything is being done through due process,” he added.
After the CJP concluded his speech, senior lawyer Abdullah Malik also handed over an application to CJP Gulzar Ahmed demanding to take suo muto notice on the Sialkot lynching incident.
The CJP after reading the application gave it to his secretary asking him to look into the matter.
