CJP-designate pledges to ensure court's majesty and judges' dignity

• Remarks come during former CJP Faez Isa's farewell reference. 
• Justice Yahya says best judges should go to remote districts.
• Newly appointed top judge terms Justice Isa "most caring person".

ISLAMABAD: Chief justice of Pakistan (CJP)-designate Justice Yahya Afridi has pledged to ensure the rule of law for the citizens, prevalence of the principle of separation of powers, and the protection of dignity of a judge and majesty of the court, under his tenure as the country's top judge, The News reported.

The remarks came during the full court reference held on the eve of the retirement of former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, in the honour of the outgoing top judge.

The reference was attended by judges of the Supreme Court, lawyers as well as staff of the apex court. Five judges, including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Ayesha A Malik, and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan did not attend the full court reference.

CJP-designate Justice Afridi, in his speech, said that proper and immediate attention would be given to remote districts like Jiwani district of Balochistan, Tank in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Ghotki in Sindh, and Sadiqabad in Punjab because Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta get the immediate attention of the high court and the government.

He said the remote districts need our attention and the best judges should go there because they were most needed.

The CJP-designate said that he always found Justice Isa to be the most caring person. In a lighter vein, he added, that if someone would behave with him with kindness, he would respond in the same manner.

"But if you try to provoke him, then you will be in hell, and you will not find any place and then only Allah can save you," Justice Yahya added.

He said that as a judge he learned a lot from Justice Isa, adding that he had many disagreements with him (Justice Isa), but he always seemed ready to listen to his point of view and also seemed prepared to follow them.

The newly-appointed chief justice is set to take oath in a ceremony scheduled at Aiwan-e-Sadar today (Saturday). 

President Asif Ali Zardari will administer oath to Justice Afridi, who will serve the post for a fixed three-year term.