IHC chief calls for reforms in district courts

Says it is the court’s duty to satisfy those seeking justice

ISLAMABAD: Pointing towards room for improvement, a senior jurist in the federal capital on Wednesday called for reforms in the district courts.

This was stated by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah as he performed a flag hoisting ceremony to mark Independence Day at the IHC. The ceremony was attended by IHC judges including Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and representatives from the Bar Association.

A smartly-turned-out contingent of the federal police presented a guard of honour after which the national anthem was played.

Addressing the gathering, CJ Minallah said that there was much room of improvement in the lower courts and the higher courts.

He added that most people rely upon lower courts for resolution of their problems and it was the court’s duty to satisfy them by serving justice.

“The country cannot progress without ensuring the supremacy of law and constitution,” he said, adding that they had little option other than to continue their struggle for a free judiciary.

He said the enemies of the nation will continue to gain strength unless the supremacy of law and judiciary was not ensured in the country.

Minallah added that Pakistan came into being after the rigorous efforts of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The IHC chief justice, though, reiterated that Jinnah was a lawyer. Thus, he argued that every individual, including the lawyers’ community, is required to put in their efforts for the survival of the country.

The IHC chief justice asserted that terrorism devastated the country and thousands of individuals, army and police sacrificed their lives.

“We need to improve ourselves to improve the country,” he argued. Subsequently, at the end of the ceremony, prayers were made for the country’s security, unity, martyrs of the Indian military aggression in Occupied Kashmir and lawyers. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2019.