SC, HCs should allocate benches in consultation with senior judges: CM Baqar
Imran
SC, HCs should allocate benches in consultation with senior
judges: CM Baqar
Lack of coordination between bar, bench to affect
entire system
KARACHI ,Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool
Baqar has said that being judges we may not have lived up to the expectations
of the people and the colleagues and unfortunately, in recent years, relations
between the bar and the bench have been strained.
“We must accept that the bar and the bench are both
key stakeholders in the attainment of justice and democracy. Lack of
coordination between the two not only affects them but also the entire system,
therefore, we must work together to improve our relations and face all
challenges together.”
This he said while speaking at the annual dinner of
the Karachi Bar Association. The program was attended by Chief Justice Sindh
High Court Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, Amir Saleem President Karachi Bar
Association, Mumtaz Ali Mehdi Vice President, Waqar Alam General Secretary,
Sabeeh Mahmood Joint Secretary, and others.
At the outset, the interim CM congratulated Justice
Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi on assuming the position of Chief Justice of the Sindh High
Court. He hoped that during his tenure [Justice Aqeel Abbasi], both the bar and
the bench would work together for the cause of justice and face all challenges
together.
Going into nostalgia, Justice Baqar said that his
association with the Karachi Bar Association spanned over four decades. “I
became a member of the KBA as a young lawyer almost 40 years ago, and this bond
remained intact even after I became a judge,” he said and added in 2007, during
the emergency, lawyers and the KBA played an integral role in the restoration
of democracy and the judiciary and their struggle bore fruit in 2009 when
judges were restored.
Justice Baqar also mentioned the lawyers’ movement of
2007. He said, “Even today, the independence of the judiciary is under
threat.” He went on to say that some of the threats were external, while others
were internal.
The CM said that in recent years, the composition of
benches, especially in important cases, has led to polarization in the Supreme
Court. He added, “This polarization has reached a level where people’s
confidence in the Supreme Court has been affected, rather than reforming the
composition of benches, which is the prerogative of the judiciary, parliament
has had to intervene, therefore, I believe that not only the Supreme Court but
all High Courts should exercise the power to allocate benches in consultation
with senior judges.” He said that this would not only improve the quality of
decision-making but also reduce polarization and restore people’s confidence in
the judiciary.
Justice Baqar said that a delegation from the Karachi
Bar Association met him - they highlighted several issues faced by the bar and
requested assistance. He added that the Law Minister Omer Soomro submitted a
summary requesting funds for the Karachi Bar and other bar associations. “After
considering the size of the Karachi Bar Association and its issues, I decided
to allocate additional funds to them,” he said and hoped that these funds would
help ease some of their problems.
He said that the young lawyers face several
challenges, especially due to inflation in recent years. “We will try to find
solutions to their problems, I have several ideas, such as offering paid
internships or traineeships in the Advocate General’s Office, Law department,
or Prosecutor General’s Office.
Justice Baqar urged all lawyers, especially young
ones, to improve their skills and knowledge by reading law journals and recent
judgments. He read out a stanza of Robert Frost, “The woods are lovely, dark,
and deep. But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.”
