CJP calls for bench-bar unity to ensure speedy justice

PESHAWAR: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has said that the bench and bar are interconnected, and the provision of justice to the people is only possible when both work together. He said it was their collective responsibility to ensure the speedy and affordable dispensation of justice to litigants, which could only be achieved through cooperation between the bench and the bar.

The CJP expressed these views while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) as the chief guest on Wednesday.

The event was attended by Supreme Court Judge Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court S.M. Atiq Shah, senior puisne judge Ijaz Anwar, other judges, lawyers and officials.

Chief Justice Yahya Afridi stressed that the foremost priority should be to provide immediate justice to people who approach the courts. He urged young lawyers to learn from their seniors. “You should play your role in the delivery of justice,” he said, adding that experienced advocates like Qazi Anwar were still there to guide them.

The CJP said that development projects were being initiated at various levels and needed full support to avoid delays due to certain issues. The purpose of these projects, he added, is to ensure easy and affordable access to justice and to provide facilities to litigants.

He stated that the Peshawar Kutchehri Complex was his dream project, on which he had been working for the past eight years, but due to unavoidable reasons, it couldn’t be completed earlier. However, he expressed satisfaction that the provincial government had now committed full funding for it.

PHC Acting Chief Justice S.M. Atiq Shah stressed the importance of harmony between the bench and the bar to ensure timely justice. He said that over 226,000 cases were currently pending in district courts, and measures were being taken to reduce this backlog. Special committees have been formed to expedite proceedings.