SHC holds full court reference for judge's retirement

Justice Muhammad Farooq Shah has decided on more than 400 jail appeals

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh said on Wednesday that the bench and bar could not completely end the sufferings of the litigating public, but the two sides should work together to help reduce them.

He was speaking at a full court reference held on the retirement of the high court's Justice Muhammad Farooq Shah held at the SHC.
Sheikh lauded the services rendered on the bench by the retiring judge in criminal matters, particularly the appeals filed by prisoners languishing in jails.

He mentioned that Justice Shah decided more than 400 jail appeals. SHC CJ Sheikh urged the other judges to fill the vacuum created by the retirement of Justice Shah and replace him by addressing the miseries of the litigants.



Sheikh said the sufferings of the litigants could not be completely addressed, but it could be reduced if the bar and bench strive together for this cause.

Justice Shah said violations of the fundamental rights of the citizens were taking place due to flaws in the system that had become obsolete.

Mentioning a jail appeal decided by him recently, Justice Shah said an aging prisoner had been released after languishing in jail for 27 years due to delays and defects in the prosecution system.

The prisoner was named as co-accused with his brother, who had killed his wife and children.



According to the prisoner, his parents had also died during his prolonged imprisonment. "Now, he has been released on bail but his release is worth nothing," noted the judge. "He is all alone," he added.

He underscored the need to take concrete measures to improve the conditions in which the inmates live in the prisons.

SHC judges, the advocate-general, prosecutor-general, federal law officers, senior lawyers and representatives of the Sindh Bar Council, the SHC Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association also attended the reference.

They also lauded the services rendered by Justice Shah and highlighted the judgments given by him in the cases.

The high court is also short of judges, who numbered 35 against the sanctioned strength of 40. However, with the retirement of Justice Shah there will be 34 judges across the province.