Improving judicial system, ensuring supremacy of law a priority: CJP

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmad has said that improving the judicial system of the country and ensuring supremacy of the law was a priority of all relevant departments and individuals.

While addressing the launching ceremony of a book "Citators of Civil & Criminal Law and district judiciary bench book" here on Saturday, he said that the country’s justice system needed to be expeditious and the state should make more investment for the purpose. It would also help make it more accessible to people, he added.

He said that more judges were required to be appointed to the district judiciary besides improvements in structure and other facilities to secure the goal.

The CJP appreciated the efforts of the research cell of the Lahore High Court (LHC) in preparation of the book. He said that the book covered all major topics and hoped that it would prove beneficial for the district judiciary in managing and deciding the cases speedily.

However, it was not an alternative to research, as the work of a judge was based on research and it was a laborious task, he added. He also stressed the need to increase the number of tribunals and district judiciary.

He hoped that the book would improve with the passage of time and more topics would be added to it.

He said that COVID-19 also affected the working of the courts but all measures were taken to ensure that delivery of justice was not delayed. He said that the courts remained functional throughout the year, from lower courts to the apex court.

He also inaugurated the first commercial court of the country in Lahore and termed it was a matter of pride for the Punjab judiciary to have such a court.

He said that no unnecessary delay should be made in commercial matters as it was directly related to the country’s economy and investment.

LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan also addressed the ceremony and appreciated the performance of the district judiciary, as it decided more cases in 2020 than the previous year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Justice Qasim said that timely decisions in the cases of overseas Pakistanis resulted in increased foreign exchange. He stressed going all out for further improving the country’s judicial system.

Acting Director General Punjab Judicial Academy Chaudhry Muhammad Saleem, Senior Civil Judge, Lahore, Mazhar Hussain Ramay, District and Sessions Judge Lahore Sajjad Hussain Sindhar also addressed the ceremony.

LHC judges - Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem, and Justice Asjad Javaid Ghural - were also present, besides judicial officers and others.

CJP Gulzar Ahmad gave away shields to lawyers, research officers and retired sessions judges, who took part in preparation of the book.

Earlier, the CJP inaugurated the first commercial court of Punjab here at the ADR centre.

LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan, Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti and other LHC judges also accompanied the CJ.