Mashallah. The new CJ of the Lahore High Court pledging to tackle corruption in the judiciary. What a shame this did not happen under the EX CJ of the supreme court.
http://www.dawn.com/2008/01/02/nat14.htm
Criminal cases against corrupt judges pledged : LHC CJ takes oath
By Our Reporter
LAHORE, Jan 1: Justice Sayed Zahid Husain on Tuesday took oath as 37th Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court at the Governor’s House, says a statement issued here on Tuesday. Governor Khalid Maqbool administered the oath to the new chief justice at a ceremony attended by Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Justice Ijaz Nisar (retired), LHC judges, provincial ministers, Punjab advocate general and other prominent personalities attended the ceremony.
Later, the chief justice administered oath to Justice Mazhar Husain Minhas at a ceremony held at the high court. He was appointed as LHC judge on Dec 14, but he could not take oath because he had been away performing Haj. Presiding over a meeting of all LHC judges, the new chief justice urged them to speed up the disposal of cases. The new CJ in his message announced establishment of a complaint cell at his office to facilitate people. “It was the prime responsibility of a state to ensure justice to all and sundry,” the chief justice said giving reasons for setting up the complaint cell. “I would try my best to remedy the grievances of the poor,” he pledged.
The chief justice said in ensuring justice to everyone, especially the poor, the cooperation of the bar was imperative. “Favouritism, bribery and nepotism had no place in the judicial system and these evils would not be tolerated at any cost because these had eaten into the social fabric of our society,” the CJ said. He said a judge found guilty of corruption and other malpractices would not only face disciplinary action but also criminal proceedings. “The black sheep that earns a bad name for the institution should consider themselves accountable. It would be better for them to quit this institution on their own,” he said.
He said the honest and upright judicial officers should continue deciding cases as per the Constitution and according to the voice of their conscience because for that they would be rewarded in the end. He appealed to the people to identify the corrupt officers associated with the judiciary in Punjab and refrain from bribing them.
He said the bar and the bench were the part and parcel of judicial system and pivotal to its smooth running because the dispensation of justice to the common people would not be possible without their unity. “Let us move forward and make combined efforts at the beginning of the new year,” he added.
“I assure you that no effort would be spared to provide justice even to a man living in the remote area of the Punjab”, he said. He added Islam had vigorously preached equality and justice. Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) demonstrated the best judicial system in the world, he said. “No doubt that true judicial system was the backbone of a society. A society could only stay tranquil as long as it is based on justice. The moment justice is denied, the society shatters,” he said
If the right person was not given his due share in society and the grievances of deprived strata were not redressed, than society was bound to wipe out sooner or later, he said. The CJ said the Constitution also envisaged that state was responsible for providing justice to every citizen. A judge who discharged his duty according to the voice of his conscience and as per the will of the God would never feel frightened by the materialistic forces, he added.
“This is the pivotal part of a Muslim’s faith. I, therefore, expect from a judge that he would discharge his duties as per the Constitution and law without taking into consideration any pressure and favour,” he said.