Retired judges cannot work for 2 years: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said Monday that the judges of superior courts get attractive benefits on retirement, therefore, they should not try for new jobs for two years, Geo News reported.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was addressing a gathering held to mark new judicial year and said that according to Article 207 of constitution, retired judges of superior courts are not allowed to do new jobs for two years.

The CJP said that currently 19,323 cases are pending the Supreme Court, hence and it is time to pay importance to the increasing number of cases.

He said that 1.8 million cases were pending in Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and District Courts on June 1, 2009 that has now reduced to 1.4 million while the larger benches still have to decide on important constitutional cases.

The Chief Justice said that in the meetings held by judicial commission, it was advised that 100 judges of superior courts should be hired. He said that so far, 23 meetings have been held since the formation of judicial commission.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry also said that it is a great relief that we are a patriotic nation despite civil and political unrest in the country. He said that a system would be devised soon that would be based on equality, freedom, patience and justice.

On the occasion, President of Supreme Court Bar Association, Asma Jahangir said they favour the decision of dismissing PCO judges but being part of judiciary, justice instead of revenge should be followed.