CJP says Appointment of judges to be expedited.

Karachi: The Supreme Court (SC) will take all possible measures to expedite the appointment of judges in all high courts of the country, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has said.

He also directed authorities concerned to construct a detention centre at the premises of the SC Karachi registry, because under-trial prisoners undergo a lot of inconvenience during hearings at the SC and have to sit in police vans for long hours in inhumane conditions.

The CJP emphasised that the bench and the bar should proceed expeditiously with cases related to human rights, juvenile offences and drug and terrorism, as well as bail matters, family cases, and rent matters. The CJP, who is on a two-day visit to Karachi, met with delegations of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Sindh High Court Bar Association, Sindh Bar Council and the Karachi Bar Association at the Supreme Court Karachi registry.

He exchanged views with lawyers about the challenges faced by the judicial machinery in the country, and asked the lawyers to suggest measures to eradicate corruption from the judicial service.

The CJP emphasised the need to put in all possible efforts to provide speedy and inexpensive justice to the public.

He expressed hope that the lawyers will show the enthusiasm and motivation in expediting proceedings of various cases that was shown by them at the time of the restoration of the deposed superior court judges.

The lawyers’ delegations assured the CJP of their unstinted cooperation in achieving the objectives of the National Judicial Policy 2009. They, however, strongly underlined the need to appoint judges against vacant posts in the higher courts and the subordinate judiciary. CJP Chaudhry endorsed the views of the legal fraternity and said that the SC will take all possible measures to expedite the appointment of judges in the high courts of the country.

He emphasised the need to tackle the backlog of cases on a priority basis.

Building committee meeting: The CJP also chaired a meeting of the SC Karachi registry’s building committee. Three members of the committee, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Ghulam Rabbani; the finance, law, and works and services secretaries; and the work and services chief engineer, along with other departmental representatives attended the meeting.

The CJP expressed satisfaction at the pace of renovation work in the Supreme Court Karachi registry, which is housed in an old building on M.R Kiyani Road. The committee also visited the judges rest house at Bath island and inspected the under construction lodges.

Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany arranged a lunch on reception in honour of the CJP at the Defence Golf and Country Club. All other SHC judges were also present on the occasion.