ISLAMABAD: The new judicial year 2016-17 commenced on Monday with the observations of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) that terrorism is not only generated from foreign elements but also from within the county. “Regrettably, such elements also get internal support to perpetrate their nefarious acts. Unfortunately, some political parties support terror elements for personal interests,” said CJP Anwar Zaheer Jamali while addressing a ceremony held at main building of Supreme Court.
The ceremony was widely attended by judges of top court, members of Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC). “This court had observed in cases related to worsening law and order situation in Karachi and Balochistan that contact and relations were found between subversive elements and different political and religious parties,” said the CJP, adding such issues should immediately be addressed.
He added the judiciary and legal community were also being targeted in acts of terrorism in order to threaten this institution entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring justice. In the recent past, the top court was criticised for unnecessarily intervening in administrative work. However, responding to such criticism, the chief justice observed that the judiciary tried to assume the original jurisdiction of suo moto action in order to dispel such impressions.
“But keeping in view the constitutional obligations, this court cannot close its eyes and prevention becomes inevitable in case fundamental rights are violated,” the CJP said.
Moreover, CJP said that the judiciary was fully aware of the problems faced by litigants due to delay in disposal of cases. Therefore, several steps were initiated to address the issues of litigants. He urged the legal community to fully cooperate with the judiciary in order to realise the goal of ensuring speedy justice to the people. The CJP also stressed the need for bringing improvement in district courts. He said several proposals were under consideration including proper training of the judges as well as promoting harmony among the district judges, police and the prosecution. He said the judiciary will continue its efforts to ensure rule of law in the country.
The Chief Justice said it is the responsibility of the state, of which the judiciary is an important component, to ensure speedy and inexpensive justice to the people. Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Ashtar Ausaf Ali in his speech said that there is need to bring about structural change, most especially when it comes to matters of practice and procedure. We also need to reduce our countless judicial tiers, and intermingling of judicial offices.
Remembering the martyred legal practitioners, PBC’s Vice Chairman Dr. Farogh Naseem said that after the fall of Dhaka in 1972, the Quetta tragedy of August 8 is by far the most lamentable in the annals of Pakistan’s history. “It is obvious that Pakistan is passing through hard times and at least one organ of the state, the judiciary, which includes the entire system of administration of justice, is under direct attack,” said Farogh Naseem while recalling the attack on Mardan Court.
He further said that judges in modern democracies were responsible for protecting democracies both from terrorism and from the means the state wants to use to fight terrorism. SCBAP President Barrister Syed Ali Zafar in his speech emphasised the significance of the beginning of each judicial year not only as a cherished tradition but as an opportunity that has constantly brought the bar and the bench closer together.
“This opportunity must be made full use of considering the series of crises Pakistan finds itself engulfed in at present,” he said adding that Pakistani citizens continue to suffer in the throes of violence at the hands of criminals and terrorists. He highlighted that despite the recent wave of attacks targeted at the intellectual capital of Pakistan, the legal fraternity; those responsible for upholding the rule of law have strengthened their resolve to serve the nation rather than being disheartened.