Law must serve as shield for vulnerable rather than as weapon of powerful: Justice Panhwar

A senior judge of the Sindh High Court, Justice Salahuddin Panwhar, has said that he believes that law must serve as a shield for the vulnerable rather than as a weapon of the powerful.

Addressing a full court reference on his elevation to the Supreme Court along with Chief Justice SHC Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui, Justice Panhwar said that history remembers those who strive for justice. He said that law is not just a profession but a profound duty, one that demands both knowledge and empathy.

Justice Panhwar said that throughout his career he has sought to understand the miseries of the common man, which is our majority and living under the mental state of Stockholm syndrome.

He said that as a member of legal fraternity, he has explored the legal landscape through two schools of thought — hard positivism and soft positivism -- and has always aligned himself with the latter, striving to interpret and extend the law in ways that address the hardships of those living within a deeply feudal social structure and are deprived of their fundamental rights.

He further said he remained committed to playing his role, not as a passive observer but as an active force for change, and his judgments are not just legal decisions but reflection of his principles and unwavering commitment to justice.

Chief Justice Mohammad Shafi Siddiqui emphasized that lawyers should develop the reading habit, which is always helpful for learning new dimensions. He also thanked senior lawyers for guiding him during entire legal profession.

Additional Attorney General Makhdoom Zia-ul-Haq lauded the 13-year diligent services of the chief justice as well as of senior pusine judge Justice Salahuddin Panhwar for the Sindh High Court as judges.

He said that both judges are joining the ranks of the Supreme Court at a difficult time -- where the judiciary is beset with many internal and external challenges. He expressed the hope that they would perform this onerous duty with independence and wisdom, and work towards further enhancing both their own reputation and that of the judiciary as a whole.

The presidents of the Sindh High Court Bar Association’s Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas chapters, the Karachi Bar Association and others also spoke and paid rich tributes to the services of the CJ and the senior judge for upholding rule of the law and independence of the judiciary.