KARACHI - Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali yesterday underscored the need for an alternate dispute-resolution system in rural areas to provide speedy and inexpensive justice to the people.
Addressing a seminar, he held the judiciary was performing its functions independently and criticism on the existing judicial system was inappropriate. “There is no flaw in our judicial system, but courts’ orders are not implemented in letter and spirit,” he observed. “We are part of the society which lacks fear of God. Instead of implementing courts orders, methods are adopted to escape them. No difference is left between truth and falsehood and lawful and unlawful. The mother and daughter of a victim record statements in a court while witnesses become hostile,” he remarked.
He held delay in deciding cases is creating problems. Steps are taken in urban areas to resolve disputes through jirgas, which is not correct, he remarked. A system should be in place in rural areas for resolution of disputes. He urged the media to highlight an alternate dispute-resolution system.