No one can pressure judiciary from outside: CJP Mian Saqib

Says if there was any pressure, verdict on Hudaibiya Papers Mills case would not have been the same

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday expressed disapproval of those who criticised the judiciary whenever any decision came against their desires.

“Judiciary is like your elder so don’t abuse your elder,” he said while addressing a seminar on ‘Seeking justice, challenges and their solution’, organised by Pakistan Bar Council.

“All the judges have been working independently without any sort of pressure. We take decisions on merit and you should be proud of the judiciary which we have made independent. Every judge is independent,” he said.

Asking the critics wherefrom such pressure would come, he rejected aspersions that the judiciary was influenced. He said no one who could dictate the courts had been born yet. “Judiciary is not part of any design or plan and the judges are working independently,” he reiterated candidly.

The chief justice expressed concern over unprofessional attitude of those lawyers who spread rumours about judges. He said he didn’t know about the Hudabiya case verdict of the Supreme Court on Friday.

He also criticised lawyers who indulged in frivolous litigation and created hurdles in the way of dispensation of justice.



Justice Nisar said he believed in supremacy of Parliament and his judgment on the 18th amendment had cited the importance of democracy for the state. He said everything was due to democracy and if there was no democracy, there would, ‘God forbid’, be no constitution.

He condemned an incident of harassment of a woman judge. “Who are those who abuse the judges and take the law into their hands?” he asked, adding that the work of judges had become difficult. He said cases were adjourned because of health issues and nobody knew till how late in the nights they had to study. “I hardly sleep three to four hours a day and sometimes walk with Justice Ijazul Ahsan,” the CJP said.

However, he said it was a fact that perhaps quality justice had not been delivered to those who deserved it and asked the lawyers present on the occasion to promise to “give the best year with utmost honesty, dedication and integrity” so that the situation would improve.

Addressing Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, he said the judicial officers must be provided training. He said delay in dispensation of justice was caused by incompetence in the lower judiciary and books on the subject were also needed.

He also rejected criticism on the procedure laid down for appointments to the superior judiciary. The CJP said TV anchors “don’t read any judgment and don’t ascertain the circumstances. We are often surprised to hear them on TV giving decisions on sensitive matters”.



Senior Supreme Court Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, other judges, judicial and law officers and representatives of the bars were also present.