Full court reference held for outgoing chief justice

ISLAMABAD: Outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali Thursday said he made all-possible efforts to create harmony among government institutions and that strong institutions were essential for the rule of law and supremacy of the constitution.

A full court reference in honour of outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali was held here on Thursday, who will retire on December 31 after serving the apex court for more than a decade.

The reference was held in court room no. 1 where all the judges of the apex court marked their attendance to bid farewell to the CJ Anwar Zaheer Jamali.

On the occasion, the chief justice said, "I take this moment to thank you all for attending this full court reference. I address you today as the time has come for me to lay down my robes after serving as a judge for almost twenty one years. Although two decades have passed, it seems like yesterday that I started my tenure."

Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali expressed his hopes that Justice Saqib Nisar, the chief justice designate, will lead the proud and cherished traditions of the apex court.

"In him, we have an ascetic thinker of vision dedicated to seeking the light of justice for all. His vision shall enlighten our jurisprudence," he said.

Justice Saqib Nisar hailed CJ Jamali for his unparalleled contribution and services to Pakistan and to the legal profession.

"Chief Justice Anwar Jamali has led the judiciary through many challenges and obstacles in his endeavors to deliver justice. The post of chief justice is one that entails stress difficulties and predicaments but being a man of remarkable abilities patience and credence he has sailed through the gales," he said.

He said the delay in expeditious disposal of cases is one of the very serious problems we face today and it results in public dissatisfaction and lack of confidence in our judicial system. "It is a source of anxiety and indeed great concern for us."

"We believe that it is high time that appropriate positive steps be taken to overcome this situation, and the causes and reasons must clearly be identified by involving all the stakeholders at all levels of the judicial hierarchy."

We will need the help and support of the Bar which is an inseparable part of the judicial system, Justice Nisar added.

One of the solutions to this problem in civil litigation used by other countries is to resort to Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR), he said, adding that it has proved to be a very effective mechanism in those countries.

"If ADR cannot straightaway be installed for every kind of litigation, it may be gradually introduced into the system by creating an arrangement where a certain category of commercial matters be resolved through it."

Likewise, in the criminal justice system in order to swiftly and effectively deliver justice, it is expedient that the methods and mechanism of investigation must be improved by resorting to modern tools and techniques such as greater use of forensic science and DNA profiling, he added.

The attorney general of Pakistan, vice chairman Pakistan Bar Council and president of Supreme Court Bar Association also delivered speeches on the occasion.