Happy being senior puisne judge: Justice Mansoor

KARACHI: Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, the senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, said on Thursday that he was happy with his position and should be addressed accordingly.

He was speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Karachi Bar Association’s newly elected office-bearers. He administered the oath to the 17-member body of KBA at the ceremony held on the City Court premises.

As the SC judge was invited to the podium to administer the oath, the venue echoed with slogans by some lawyers in his support. “We need to move things forward,” Justice Mansoor stressed. “We have the chief justice and I am the senior puisne judge, and I am very happy with that. It would be better if I am addressed as the senior puisne judge; otherwise, it could upset the system,” he urged.

Highlighting the importance of oath, Justice Shah said that it was not just words but a serious thing. “I think that oath is a guideline, a compass that tells you how to face difficult situations,” he opined, urging the KBA office-bearers to read the oath whenever they face any difficulties as it would help them solve all their problems.

“This is not just a promise that you have read in front of everyone but a sacred trust. You cannot break it and if we break it, the whole system breaks and the entire structure is doomed. If we stand by our oath, there will be no problem anywhere,” he maintained.

Justice Shah highlighted that if one lacked courage, he or she should not become a lawyer. “Courage is the whole story because it requires courage to stand against injustices, defend defenceless and uphold people’s rights,” he said.