PHOTO: LHC.GOV.PK
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik said on Monday that corruption would not be tolerated at any tier of the judiciary. “If anyone is found guilty of corruption, he will be given exemplary punishment.”
Addressing a meeting of members of Faisalabad Jhang, Chiniot and Toba Tek Singh Bar Associations and members of the Punjab Bar Council at Circuit House, the chief justice said corruption sometimes went unchecked.
“It can be eradicated only through consolidated efforts,” he said. He said measures to curb corruption should be part of all policies and plans.
Referring to the demand for a high court bench in Faisalabad, the chief justice said that he had assumed charge 10 days ago and was collecting information on the matter.
“I have seen a report of the committee constituted by the outgoing chief justice and have asked them to send their recommendations,” he said.
He said the committee was headed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.
“The report has been discussed in the Lahore High Court administrative committee meetings. Further deliberations will be held on the recommendations of the committee and all stakeholders will be taken on board before a final decision is made in this regard.”
Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah were also present.
The chief justice said lawyers were an essential component of the legal system.
“They secure justice for the oppressed,” he said. “This commitment is shared with judges.
Often judges and lawyers have no social life. They sacrifice it for the need to ensure justice for others,” he said. He said it was a responsibility that should not be taken lightly.
He urged lawyers to maintain unity among their ranks.
“Respect begets respect,” he said. “Maintain decorum while pursuing your cases in courts. Lawyers who squabble with judges on petty matters should be discouraged by their colleagues.”
He said a small group of lawyers brought a bad name to the entire legal fraternity.
The chief justice said judiciary was responsible for protecting fundamental human rights and upholding rule of law.
“This means that judges watch over the Constitution and provide hear individuals with genuine grievances,” he said. “We do not want the public to lose faith in justice.”
He said when lawyers abandoned cases over strikes on petty issues, it was disheartening for litigants.
“I believe in speedy disposal of cases,” he said.
“It is better to offer a litigant immediate relief instead of prolonging their pain for years.”
He said that it was unfortunate that lawyers who had been demanding establishment of high court benches in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan and Sargodha had gone on a two-day weekly strike to pursue their goal.
“Their demand may be just, but does the end justify the means?” he said.
“The lawyers wanted to provide relief to litigants but they have managed only to inconvenience hundreds of people with their strike.”
He urged lawyers to devise better ways for pressing their demands.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2015.
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