PHC CJ asks bar, bench to work for strengthening judicial system

PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel has said that an impression is being created that the present judicial system has failed.

“The time has come that both the bench and bar work for further strengthening of the judicial system and ensure dispensation of expeditious justice to people,” he said in his address at the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected PHC Bar Association (PHCBA) cabinet for the year 2016-17 held in the PHC premises.

“We have to prove and dispel the wrong impression of certain forces in society that the judicial system is not working,” he said. He added that a strong message should be sent to these forces by further strengthening the judicial system with coordinated efforts and restoring people’s confidence in the system.

“A mindset against the judicial system is still prevailing in society which the nation earlier observed in Swat and other parts of the country in the shape of parallel courts,” the chief justice pointed out.

“As for the bench, action is being taken against corrupt judges and those found misusing of powers and authority, but we did not see any action against black sheep among lawyers,” he added.

Earlier, the chief justice administered oath to the newly elected PHCBA cabinet. The PHC judges, law officers and a large number of lawyers attended the oath-taking ceremony.

The chief justice said it was an honour for him to administer oath to the third PHC bar cabinet consecutively. He said the bar and bench are like two parts of a body.        

PHCBA president Muzammil Khan and general secretary Yousaf Ali thanked the PHC chief justice for administering oath to the newly elected body.     

They asked the chief justice to keep the daily cause list of cases short as long cause list of cases is not the solution to clearing the backlog of cases.

They also demanded fixation of urgent cases on time for the relief of litigants and to meet the demands of justice.

Responding to the PHC bar demands, the chief justice said that he has issued orders to the office to fix the urgent cases on time.

He added that the air-conditioning plant has been extended to the bar room and quality sound system would soon be installed in the PHC.

He said the PHC is also going to restart training programmes for lawyers and judges about professionalism and ethics.