Daily Times

Sir, as we know that Hamid Khan is one of the leading lawyers of Pakistan and his recently launched book titled as A History of the Judiciary of Pakistan sparkled afresh and interesting debate among some quarters of legal fraternity and free thinkers.

The book contains extensive information relating to judicial history of Pakistan and it has covers all corners of judicial history immaculately. The author has discussed leading cases and role of the judiciary during the martial laws. The chapter sixteen of the book is fascinating as on page no. 451 the author has discussed Iftikhar Hussain-the former Chief Justice of Lahore High Court who was retired on 31st December, 2007.

The discussion is related to his tenure as Chief Justice of Lahore High Court as in the opinion of the author his period was perhaps the darkest period in the history of the Lahore High Court. The author further goes on and says that corruption ruled supreme in the High Court and the former CJ became a favourite of Musharraf’s regime as he had no scruples and was willing to do everything possible to protect his interests. Furthermore, the author has shed light on over all outfit of the Lahore High Court during former CJ Iftikhar Hussain’s period by saying that the Lahore High Court ceased to be a judicial institution and became the hangout of touts and wheeler-dealers.

Mr Hamid’s observation doesn’t stop here the author further narrated that only Mr Hussain’s favourite lawyers could flourish and develop as a practitioner. Mr. Editor this is a point which is of immense important as it is related to one of our leading person of these days Pakistani’s political who is a media spokesperson of Pakistan-I-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who once was a spokesperson of Pervez Musharraf as well. He is a nephew of Mr. Hussain who appeared in all leading cases during his tenure as CJ; even the transfer and postings of judges in the subordinate judiciary were routed through him, and graft bribery were the order of the day.

The author narrated from his experiences that the former CJ, Mr. Hussain during his tenure interfered in all bar associations’ elections, and used judges of the subordinate courts to influence the lawyers to vote for his favourites. The author placed a very bold stance that Mr Hussain was an instrumental figure in 2007 emergency that crackdown against judges and others. The author had declared Mr. Hussain the main collaborator of Musharraf’s illegal action of 3rd November, 2007.

SARMAD ALI

Lahore

Published in Daily Times, August 20^th , 2017.