Daily Times

KARACHI: Supreme Court Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Saturday underscored the need for an alternative dispute resolution system in rural areas to dispense speedy and inexpensive justice to people.

Addressing a seminar in the Sindh capital on mediation organised by the National Centre for Dispute Resolution (NCDR), Justice Jamali said that judiciary was performing its functions independently and criticism of the judicial system was not justified.

“There are tons of cases pending in Pakistan. The judicial procedure may be complicated for the people, but there is no imperfection in our existing judicial system, as the same system is working quite well in other parts of the world. Unhealthy criticism of the judiciary reflects unrealistic thinking of the critics. The judiciary is independent and every member of it is working with full devotion,” the chief justice said.

Court orders are not being implemented in letter and spirit, he observed. “We are part of the society, which lacks fear of God. Instead of implementing court orders, people try to evade them. No difference is left between truth and falsehood and lawful and unlawful. Mother and daughter of the victim record statements in the court, but witnesses become hostile,” he said.

He held that delayed decisions on cases were creating problems. He said that steps had been taken in urban areas for resolution of disputes. He said that disputes were being resolved through jirgas or rural councils in rural areas and this was not right. He said that a system should be in place in rural areas for resolution of disputes. He urged the media to highlight an alternative dispute resolution system.

The chief justice said that a little conflict could become a big dispute, adding that many crimes could take place if a little conflict is not resolved on time.

Justice Jamali hailed the efforts of the NCDR to provide alternative ways to the people to sort out their disputes with mutual understanding. “The NCDR aims to give an option to the people to resolve their issues through negotiations,” he added. He urged the state and its institutions to play their role in the resolution of disputes so that people do not have to go to rural councils.