Bar and bench must try to get along: Aitezaz

SIALKOT:

Former chief justice Ifitikhar Chaudhry rode a wave of mass support after General (r) Musharraf unconstitutionally suspended him as chief justice. When he resumed office, however, his priorities were different. Contrary to what those close to him had suggested, he failed to strengthen the judiciary at the district level, Senator Aitezaz Ahsan said on Thursday at the Sialkot District Bar Association’s oath-taking ceremony for newly elected office bearers.

District and Sessions Judge Yousaf Aujla administrated oath to the newly-elected office bearers. Aujla stressed the need for a positive working relationship between the bar and the bench. He said they had a common goal of ensuring the public’s access to speedy justice.

Ahsan said that lawyers must come forward and remove hurdles in the way of ensuring justice. “Everyone has the right to be heard…we need to root out intolerance from amongst ourselves and help pave the way for a serious and mature engagement with those who might not agree with us.”

He said developing a pleasant working environment was essential to ensuring relief to the oppressed. “It will also improve relations between the bar and the bench.”

Intolerance has mired the nation in a death trap, he said. “It is time we stand together as a people and take significant steps against this menace.” He said this was imperative if Pakistan wished to ever be counted among civilised nations. “We need to work towards promoting a culture of acceptance and hear others out.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2016.