Sunday, November 28, 2010

Former Attorney General of Pakistan Anwar Mansoor elected SHCBA President

Anwar Mansoor Khan 
KARACHI: Over 30 candidates contested the annual Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) elections for president, vice-president, general secretary, treasurer and managing committee members on Saturday. Anwer Mansoor Khan was elected as president with 865 votes, Abid Zuberi as general secretary with 617 votes and Yousuf Iqbal as treasurer, while Ashiq Anwer and Abdul Jabbar tied for vice-president. Mushaf Ahmed, Ahsan Akber, Ahmed Bugti, Farid Ahmed Dayo, Arshad Jadoon, Tariq Mehmood, Khalid Mehmood Doon and Masood Siddiqui were elected as managing committee members. Strict security measures were taken by the law enforcement agencies at the Sindh High Court (SHC) and every person and vehicle was properly searched before they were allowed to enter the premises of the SHC building. Election Committee Chairman ZK Jatoi told Daily Times that vote casting started around 9am and it continued in a peaceful atmosphere until 5pm. He said there were over 1,750 members, but the number of eligible voters was 1,405, of which 1,058 had cast their votes. He added that the lawyers were satisfied with the security measures. asghar azad (DT)

Friday, November 26, 2010

Strong judiciary can protect other state organs: CJ Iftikhar Chaudhty


ISLAMABAD: CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry said on Monday that it was the need of the hour that the legislative and executive work in a manner to strengthen the judiciary because it would ensure survival of other organs in case some extra-constitutional forces strike the political dispensation.
Addressing a full-court reference on the retirement of Supreme Court Judge Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery, he said it was an unfortunate fact of Pakistan’s constitutional history that whenever such forces struck in the past, the legislature and the executive suffered, but the judiciary also came under pressure with adverse effects on principles of judicial independence and impartiality.

But now, the chief justice said, after the landmark judgment of July 31, 2009 in the case of Sindh High Court Bar Association versus the Federation of Pakistan, the Supreme Court had clearly done away with this past practice and declared that no judge of the superior judiciary would ever accept any unlawful and unconstitutional order of any authority under any circumstances.

“Now it is incumbent upon all institutions to work in unison with each other, which will ensure their independence and prime them up for performing their assigned constitutional duties,” he added.

The chief justice said as per Global Corruption Report 2007, corruption was prevalent in the justice sector, thereby undermining its credibility and performance. In Pakistan, he said, corruption in the judicial system was mostly on account of age-old practice of bribery. He said it was more pronounced in lower courts called Katchery.

“When courts are perceived to be tolerant of corruption, litigant parties and people lose hope in the justice system. It is a dangerous symptom as it is the beginning of the breakdown of peace and security in society and leads to increased crime and lawlessness,” he added.

He said accountability in the judiciary was necessary to eradicate corruption and culture of bribery. The chief justice said administering justice was not only the job of the judiciary, but also of all the three organs of the state.

“As far as the executive and the legislative are concerned, they also share an equal responsibility to achieve the objective of the independence of the judiciary,” Justice Iftikhar added. He paid rich tributes to Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery, saying Justice Jaffery had successfully played an important role of his life and had earned the respect of his colleagues and legal fraternity due to his professional competence and unassuming and affable personality.

The chief justice said Justice Jaffery not only brought rich experience of judicial administration, but also contributed much in the use of information technology and automation in the field of judicial administration.

“Despite his enormous judicial work, he has been active in strengthening the official website of the Supreme Court and providing his vision and guidance to make it user friendly and updating its contents from time to time,” he added.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Asma Jehangir and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Vice Chairman Muhammad Kazim Khan also addressed the gathering and paid rich tributes to Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery.

Chief Justice of SHC plants Mango Tree in compound of High Court Bench Larkana

Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani 
LARKANA: November 9, 2010. (Nazir Siyal) The Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani on Monday visited High Court Bench Larkana and received a Guard of honour by the police Party.

He also visited High Court library, as well heard the cases in Larkana high court and planted a sapling of mango in the premises of High Court Larkana.

On the occasion, High Court Bar Association Larkana hosted a tea party in the honor of Chief Justice Sindh here at High Court bar room.

The President of High Court Bar Association Larkana Inayatullah Morio welcomed him, where the Justice Abdul Hadi Khoso, Registrar Sindh High Court Abdul Rasool Memon, District and Session Judge Larkana Bashir Ahmed Khoso,Senior Advocate of Larkana Abdul Razzak Soomro, the members of High Court Bar Association and Advocates were present.

Before this, a Court Reference was held in the Court Room of High Court Larkana in order to pay homage and tribute to late Akhter Ali G. Qazi and Late Nizamudin Memon a famous advocate of Larkana.

The chief Justice presided over the court reference, where speaking on the occasion President High Court Bar Association Larkana Inayatullah Morio, Additional Advocate General Larkana Abdul Hamid Bhurgari, Advocate Muhammad Ismail Bhutto and others lauded the services of late Akhter Ali G. Qazi and Late Nizamudin Memon.

They paid rich tributes to the late famous Advocates of Larkana who remained members of the Bar Association. They also said that Akhter Ali G. Qazi remained as M.P.A, Deputy Speaker, Former Education Minister, Former Chief Minister and an Ambassador at abroad.

Besides, Nizamudin Memon was also famous advocate of Larkana and he was the father of Khalid Iqbal Memon, currently who is the member of Larkana Bar.

The chief Justice Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani expressed deep sorrow and grief over the sad demises of late Advocate Qazi Akhter Ali and late advocate Nizamudin Memon, remain among the members of Larkana Bar and their services will be remembered forever.

The Chief Justice pray Almighty Allah that the departed souls may be remained in an internal peace & give courage and fortitude to the grieved families to bear their irreparable loses.

Justice Abdul Hadi Khoso, senior advocates of Larkana and members of the Bar and advocates were largely present.

The Chief Justice also visited District and Session court Larkana and plant a sapling of mango at the premises of District and Session court Larkana where district & session judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso welcomed the chief Justice & pointed the problems of the court.(PCP)