SHC CJ says lawyers trying to protect corrupt judges

HYDERABAD: The recent war of words between the bench and the bar in Sindh was sparked after 20 judges were given show-cause notices on June 15. The Sindh High Court’s chief justice, Mushir Alam, suggested this while addressing a reception on Monday evening.

The event, organised by the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) and Hyderabad District Bar Association, was attended by a large number of judges of the SHC, district and session, civil, anti-corruption and other courts as well as hundreds of lawyers.

According to sources, an additional district and sessions judge was among the senior civil judges, civil judges and judicial magistrates who were issued notices. They were asked to explain their poor performance and alleged involvement in corruption. “Why were there no allegations of corruption [by some lawyers] against the higher judiciary brought up before that day?” he asked. Justice Alam also hinted at a nexus that allegedly existed between these judges and the protesting lawyers.

On June 18, the Sindh Bar Council (SBC) called a strike against the SHC judges. A majority of the lawyers, however, did not respond to the call in most districts of Sindh. “When we issued notices to the judges on June 15, a strike was called on June 18 and allegations were levelled against the judiciary,” said the chief justice. “When the interests of some people are endangered, they try to create a situation. These people are afraid that corruption may end in the judiciary,” he alleged.

He expressed resolve that the judiciary will be the first institution in the country which will be made free of corruption very soon. Justice Alam also complained that the media made headlines of corruption charges, made against the higher judiciary by some lawyers, but did not give proper coverage to the judiciary’s version. “The media played up our statements when we commented on two to three lawyers of the Sindh Bar Council.”

Justice Alam urged the lawyers to stand in good stead with the judiciary as it took steps to eradicate corruption. He called for a spirit like the one seen in the 2007 movement for the restoration of deposed judges. “There are Mir Jafar and Mir Sadiq [traitors] in the judiciary. But I will dare to say that they also exist among the lawyers. Our history shows us that the dictator’s men existed in both camps.”

The SHCBA’s president, advocate Nisar Durrani supported Justice Alam’s call for coordinated efforts by the bench and the bar to purge them of corrupt elements. “Today reminds me of the 2007 activism of lawyers who stood with the judiciary and opposed the people who were against them,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2013.