State unable to provide speedy justice: CJP Justice Jawad S Khawaja

ISLAMABAD: Outgoing chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Jawad S Khawaja said on Wednesday that the state has failed to provide timely and affordable justice to the people of Pakistan.

"The justice system of our country does not provide affordable and speedy justice. The state needs to accept that it has failed to provide timely justice to the people," said Justice Khawaja as he addressed a full-court reference organised in his honour.

Justice Jawad S Khawaja steps down as the chief justice today after serving at the exalted position for just 23 days. The senior most judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, will succeed the outgoing chief justice to hold the coveted slot for 15 months, until he retires on 31st December 2016.

Addressing the full-court reference today, Justice Jamali said that Justice Khawaja would be forever remembered as a guardian of justice and the law.

Justice Jamali will take oath of his office on Thursday, September 10.