LAHORE - Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani has said that the judicial infrastructure currently available is inadequate to meet the present day requirements, especially in the district courts where more than 90 percent of the total litigation is pending.
“There is an acute imbalance between the number of cases and the available judicial officers, especially in the Punjab. Dozens of judicial complexes in various districts had been awaiting constructions for the last several years. This neglect undermines our legal system and is the cause of disappointment among the people of Pakistan,” the CJP said, while addressing the annual dinner arranged by the Lahore High Court Bar Association here on Saturday.
He said the country was passing through a challenging stage of the legal history. A monumental struggle was undertaken by lawyers for the restoration of democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law, he said, adding the judiciary would continue to struggle to fulfil its role without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. For this, the judiciary needed support and cooperation of the bar associations and their members, the CJP said.
He said commitment, dedication, hard work and perseverance were the need of the hour to achieve the goals of judicial system. He averred the bench and the bar must act like two components to ensure efficient, effective and prompt adjudication so that the constantly rising expectations of the citizens could be met.
“Needless to say that healthy constructive criticism voiced in moderate language is never unwelcome,” he asserted. He added judges and lawyers were the trustees of the legal system but its ultimate beneficiaries were the people of Pakistan. He said the office of a citizen was the most fundamental institution in a democracy. The role emanated from the Constitution which the people adopted through their chosen representatives. “The principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice, as enunciated by Islam, had been set out in the sacred document with a view to creating a society wherein such values are respected, protected and practised,” Justice Tassaduq noted.
He said there were moments and situations when such values and the rights enshrined therein were flouted and the ideals remained dreams and goals elusive. This reflected an ongoing conflict between those who wanted to uphold these values and those who wanted to flout, the CJP held. He said the future of this country would be defined by this ongoing societal conflict. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and LHCBA President Abid Saqi also spoke on the occasion.