'Don't slander judiciary if verdict comes out against you': CJP

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday hit out at the criticism of the judiciary for allegedly being part of any conspiracy, saying judges are deciding cases independently. Addressing a Pakistan Bar Council seminar in Lahore, the CJP stressed that judges are working without any pressure and handing down judgments as per law. "I say under oath that the present judiciary is not working under any pressure," he said and added judges are deciding cases as per law and the constitution.
In a pointed reference to the ruling party bitterly criticizing the judiciary for ousting former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, CJP Nisar urged that the judiciary should not be maligned if decisions are given against any party. He lamented that when courts decide against any party, an impression is created that they were party to any conspiracy.
Referring to the reports that the Supreme Court gave all important decisions on Friday, he said it was just coincidence that the decision on the NAB's plea seeking reopening of the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case was given on that day and coincided with the verdict in the cases involving Imran Khan and Jehangir Tareen.
Had judges given in to any kind of pressure, the fate of the Hudaibiya case would have been different, he said. "Verdict in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case would have been different if judges had a bias approach," Justice Saqib Nisar stressed. CJP Nisar said analysts without reading judgments and having the knowhow of laws comment on judgments.
Every judge is independent and giving his judgments independently according to their faculty and understanding of law, the CJP said. He conceded that some "not very competent judges" take quite long to decide a case and are responsible for the delay in cases and unfortunately, there have been instances where judges have given judgments infested with errors.
"The judiciary is your baba... do not doubt its integrity," he stated after narrating story of a village elder. The Chief Justice said delay in provision of justice is a major challenge for the judiciary. He advised the lawyers to play their active role in providing justice to the victims.-NNI RECORDER REPORT adds: "Judiciary is not part of any design or plan and the judges are performing independently," he further added.
He was addressing a seminar on "Seeking justice, challenges and their solution" organized by Pakistan Bar Council at a hotel. He also said that he believed in supremacy of parliament and said everything Is due to democracy and if there is no democracy there is no constitution. He, however, said parliament is now performing not well because to formulate new law and legislations to resolve the problems is its duty.
He said new legislation is required for speedy justice and added the courts have to see and solve this problem of people of Pakistan also. He came hard on non-professional attitude of the lawyers who move frivolous litigations and create hurdles in the way of dispensation of justice. He also confessed that the delay was the bigger menace of our judicial system and unfounded litigation multiplied this. He also condemned frequent adjournment requests by lawyers on petty grounds and unnecessary strikes being observed by the bar.
CJP admitted that "wrongs" were on both sides 'the bench and the bar' and he was responsible to make them right. He asked the lawyers to come forward and help the courts in dispense of justice. Senior Puisne judge of the Supreme Court Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Lahore High Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah were present on the occasion.
PBC Vice Chairman Ahsan Bhoon, Supreme Court Bar Association President Pir Kaleem Khurshid and Azam Nair Tarar represented the bar and shared problems of the legal fraternity with the top judges. Later, at seminar held in Punjab Judicial Academy, CJP Nisar hailed the Alternate Dispute Resolution system newly introduced in Punjab. He said the ADR system Is the need of the hour and could be helpful to reduce burden of litigation on courts.