No pomp and show for Justice Dost Muhammad

ISLAMABAD: Without Full Court Reference, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan of the Supreme Court on Monday got retired and went home after holding a photo session with the Chief Justice and fellow judges.

Justice Dost Muhammad Khan laid his robes on March 19 after an immaculate carrier, stretching over more than four decades of legal judicial services in the constitutional courts of the country.

Hailing from Bannu, Khyber Pukhutunkhwa, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan had earlier declined to attend the reception of the Supreme Court as well as of bar association on the eve of his retirement. It was learnt that Justice Dost Muhammad Khan had also declined to attend the Full Court Reference in his honour as well as addressing on the occasion.

On Monday, however as per sources, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan on the request of his fellow judges held a photo session with the judges and Chief Justice of Pakistan and then went home. As the media was not invited to the said function; hence, it was not known about the venue of the occasion.

Later, in the evening, a statement was issued by the Supreme Court, stating that Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and other judges bade farewell to Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, on his retirement in a ceremony here in the Supreme Court.

They lauded the professional and legal acumen of the Judge and praised his lordships devotion and dedication for the cause of justice. They also paid deepest regards to the Judge and prayed for his long, healthy, prosperous and productive life after his retirement as Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan.

As per precedents of the country’s highest court, a Full Court Reference is organised on the eve of retirement of a judge wherein apart from all the 17 judges of the court, the Attorney General for Pakistan as well as representatives of bar associations also attend the reference to pay homage to the retiring judge.

The same day a reception is hosted by the Chief Justice of Pakistan in the honour of outgoing judge which is attended by all the judges of the apex court as well as the legal fraternity, including office bearers of bar associations.

According to the Supreme Court Bar Association office secretary, the Registrar’s Office of the Supreme Court intimated that Justice Dost Muhammad Khan would retire on March 19, 2018.

It was, however, intimated by the Registrar’s Office that Justice Muhammad Khan said that due to his personal family engagements, he could not attend any reception either from the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) or the Pakistan Bar Council on the eve of his retirement.

Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, however, through the Registrar’s Office, intimated to the Supreme Court Bar Association as well as Pakistan Bar Council, not to attend their receptions on the eve of his retirement, declining with thanks.

No reasons were mentioned by the Registrar’s Office as to why Justice Dost Muhammad Khan declined to attend the reception but simply mentioned some personal family engagements, said the official secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association.