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div.MsoNormal\r\n\t{mso-style-parent:\"\";\r\n\tmargin:0in;\r\n\tmargin-bottom:.0001pt;\r\n\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\r\n\tfont-size:12.0pt;\r\n\tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\";\r\n\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";}\r\n@page Section1\r\n\t{size:8.5in 11.0in;\r\n\tmargin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;\r\n\tmso-header-margin:.5in;\r\n\tmso-footer-margin:.5in;\r\n\tmso-paper-source:0;}\r\ndiv.Section1\r\n\t{page:Section1;}\r\n--\u003e\r\n\u003c/style\u003e\r\n\u003c!--[if gte mso 10]\u003e\r\n\u003cstyle\u003e\r\n /* Style Definitions */\r\n table.MsoNormalTable\r\n\t{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\";\r\n\tmso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;\r\n\tmso-tstyle-colband-size:0;\r\n\tmso-style-noshow:yes;\r\n\tmso-style-parent:\"\";\r\n\tmso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;\r\n\tmso-para-margin:0in;\r\n\tmso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\r\n\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\r\n\tfont-size:10.0pt;\r\n\tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\";}\r\n\u003c/style\u003e\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\u003cbody lang=EN-US style=\u0027tab-interval:.5in\u0027\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv class=Section1\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003eREPLY\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003c/b\u003e\u003cb style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\u0027\u003eBy\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nnormal\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nnormal\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\u0027\u003eMr.\r\nJustice \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003eAslam Riaz Hussain,\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\u0027\u003eRetiring Judge, Supreme\r\nCourt of \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003cst1:country-region\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:\r\n  -.1pt;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\u0027\u003ePakistan\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:country-region\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:-.1pt;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eMy Lord \u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:\r\n2.25pt\u0027\u003ethe\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:2.0pt\u0027\u003e \u003c/span\u003eChief Justice; \u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003eHon\u0027ble \u003c/span\u003eJudges; Attorney-General of\r\nPakistan; Advocates-General of the Provinces; Presidents of Provincial High\r\nCourt Bar Associations; President, Advocates-on-Record Bar Association; Ladies\r\nand Gentlemen:\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e2. I am extremely grateful to you\r\nall for assembling here today \u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:.3pt;mso-bidi-font-style:\r\nitalic\u0027\u003eto \u003c/span\u003ebid me farewell on \u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:2.0pt\u0027\u003emy \u003c/span\u003eretirement\r\nfrom the Bench and departure from the Institution and the profession with\r\nwhich, not only I; but my forefathers have been associated for 3 generations.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e3. I am also extremely grateful\r\nfor the kind words which you have said about me, though I feel that I do not\r\ndeserve them at all.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e4. It is indeed a day of\r\nthanksgiving for me, and I humbly bow my head, in profound. gratitude,\u0027 before\r\nthe Almighty \u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:.3pt;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\u0027\u003ewho \u003c/span\u003ein\r\nHis infinite grace Has enabled me to complete my tenure of office in this\r\nHighest Court of Justice in the Country.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e5. It is customary on such\r\noccasions to give a solemn speech in reply, returning the compliments, but\r\nalthough the occasion is a formal one, I would like to strike a more personal\r\nand informal note because of my long personal association with you and with\r\nthis Institution.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e6. My Lord the Chief Justice\r\nfirst ordered my reference to be held at \u003cst1:City\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003eKarachi\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:City\u003e\r\nbut I requested it to be held, instead, at \u003cst1:City\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003eLahore\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:City\u003e,\r\nbecause my association with the Bar and Bench started here. It is here that I \u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003ehave \u003c/span\u003espent the best years of my life.\r\nI have walked \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003ethrough \u0027 \u003c/span\u003ethe\r\ncorridors of this graceful \u003cst1:place\u003e\u003cst1:PlaceType\u003epalace\u003c/st1:PlaceType\u003e of \u003cst1:PlaceName\u003eJustice\u003c/st1:PlaceName\u003e\u003c/st1:place\u003e\r\nfor more than 53 years since the age of about 12. Let me tell you how the Court\r\nlooked to me then\u0027. I was a student of Central Model School and \u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:2.0pt\u0027\u003eevery \u003c/span\u003eday, after school hours, I used to\r\ncome to my father, Dr. Tassaduq Hussain, who was a Barrister practicing here,\r\nto drive back home with him. The years were round about 1936 to 1939. Most of\r\nthe Judges, then were Englishmen. In those days the Court hours were from 10-00\r\na.m. to 3-00 p.m. During the winter, one could see the Judges from the Mall,\r\nsitting, in the front, lawn during the lunch hour. There was no wall then\r\nbetween the road and the Court. Just \u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:2.0pt\u0027\u003ea \u003c/span\u003egardenia\r\nhedge which was so short and patchy that one could clearly see the lawn.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e7. The first time I saw Judges\r\nfunctioning in \u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:.3pt;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\u0027\u003ea \u003c/span\u003eCourt\r\nroom was in 1937. I was looking for my father, who I was told was arguing a\r\ncase. I traced him in a big Court room, which is now Court Room No.2 of the\r\nSupreme Court Wing. Justice Kanwar Daleep Singh and Justice Blacker were\r\nholding Court. I went up the stairs and watched in awe, from the Balcony (which\r\nis no longer there).\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e8. I was enrolled as an Advocate\r\nof the Lahore High Court Bar in September, 1949, after doing my Bar from \u003cst1:country-region\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003eEngland\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:country-region\u003e.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e9. At that time there were only\r\n75 members of Lahore High Court Bar Association. The Bar room consisted of \u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.3pt;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\u0027\u003eonly \u003c/span\u003eone room. It\r\nused to be a very quiet place. The tea room was always empty. \u0027For a long time\r\nonly one solitary figure used to be having tea there and that was myself.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e10. Time rolled on. People came\r\nand people went and a whole generation has gone by. Sometimes when I think\r\nback, faces of Mian Abdul Aziz Maiwada, Khalifa Sbuja-ud-Din, Mr. M. Saleem,\r\nCh. Nazir Ahmed, Syed Mohsin Shah and Sh. Maqbool Ahmed float before my eyes. \u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:2.0pt\u0027\u003eSo \u003c/span\u003edo the faces of Justice Mian Sir Abdur\r\nRashid, Justice Mr. M Munir, Justice S A Rehman and Justice Rustam Kayani.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e11. I have been a part of the\r\nlegal fraternity for 40 long years from 1949 to 1989, out of which for 19 years\r\nI have been on the Bench. During this period of 40 years I \u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.3pt;mso-bidi-font-style:italic\u0027\u003ehave \u003c/span\u003eseen every\r\nfacet of the profession and have known it in all its aspects. As a defence Counsel,\r\nto Addl. Advocate-General, to a Judge of the High Court right up to the Acting\r\nChief Justice of Pakistan. I have found that life on both sides of the Bar is\r\nvery tough and difficult.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e12. A student has to take an\r\nexamination only \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003eonce \u003c/span\u003ea year.\r\nBut a lawyer has to go through one every single day of his life. He has to do\r\npreparation at night and perform in. the morning in full gaze, not only of\r\nJudges, but also of his own colleagues. The main effort in many cases was to\r\ncome out unscathed. There was one Court to which many lawyers used to go only\r\nto see who got the drubbing that morning.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e13. Life on the Bench is equally,\r\nif not more, trying. While judging cases, one is always on trial oneself. You\r\nmay say what you like while in the chair, but you would think twice if you know\r\nwhat comments would be passed about you in. the Bar room. There are bad\r\ntempered Judges, but there are also overbearing advocates. So no matter which\r\nside of the Bar you are placed, you have to be careful.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e14. Speaking of our judicial\r\nsystem, I can say with confidence that you may be justifiably proud of your\r\njudiciary. With your help, it has endeavoured, to the best of its ability, to\r\nuphold the Rule of Law and maintain its independence, in a country which had to\r\nface 3 rigours Martial Laws, one after another and was ruled by individuals or\r\nnon-representative governments, for more than half of its life.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e15. In its entire history the\r\nBritish Judiciary had to face a crisis only once; that was when Crommwell\r\ndismissed the Parliament and pushed aside legal Government. What was the\r\nperformance of the British Judiciary then? Many years after Crommwell had died\r\nand the monarchy had been firmly restored, it brought out his skeleton from the\r\ngrave and put it up on trial. At the trial the Court asked the skeleton if it\r\npleaded guilty and when the skeleton did not reply, it was recorded that\r\n\u0026quot;since the accused does not answer, it may be presumed that it pleads not\r\nguilty\u0026quot;. Thereafter the Court proceeded to try the-skeleton. A finding of\r\nguilty was pronounced and the skeleton was ordered to be hanged. The\r\nrequirement of law was fulfilled.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eIndian Judiciary also faced a\r\ncrisis only once. That was when Mrs. Indira Gandhi was defeated and the\r\nsucceeding Government (of Mr. Desai) initiated a number of Criminal cases\r\nagainst her. But when she again won the election and was restored to power,\r\nwhat happened to those cases thereafter, is a matter of common knowledge. In\r\nthis connection an, article published in 1980, the London Economist commented\r\non \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003ethe \u003c/span\u003eIndian Judiciary as\r\nfollows:\u0026#8209;\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u0026quot;\u003cst1:country-region\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003eIndia\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:country-region\u003e\u0027s\r\njudiciary is meant to be the \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003ewatchdog \u003c/span\u003eof\r\nthe country\u0027s constitution. But it may soon become \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003eMrs. Indira Gandhi\u0027s poodle. The Judges have now cleared Mrs. Gandhi and\r\nher son Sanjay \u003c/span\u003eof the many charges \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003elevelled against them by the \u003c/span\u003eformer Government. Two cases \u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003eagainst Mrs. Gandhi, \u003c/span\u003eone for extorting\r\njeeps for election \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003epurposes and the\r\nother for harassing \u003c/span\u003eofficers who had probed into \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003eSanjay\u0027s car\u0027 company, were dismissed last week; and the Supreme Court\r\nhas upheld Sanjay\u0027s appeal against his conviction by a lower Court for\r\ndestroying a satirical film on the Gandhi family.\u0026quot;\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-spacerun:yes\u0027\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027letter-spacing:.2pt\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e16. I would therefore say, please\r\nbe fair to your judiciary which has recorded monumental judgments in the recent\r\npast and upheld Fundamental Rights, after restoration of the Constitution in\r\n1985 and thus enabled the elections to be held and democracy to be restored. I\r\nwonder if this would have been possible if every one had left the Court and\r\nreplaced by an alien set up.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eOur country is currently passing\r\nthrough an extraordinary phase. One of my senior colleagues on the Bench,\r\nsuggests that keeping in view our past history, one solution for achieving\r\npolitical stability can be to place greater reliance on the Superior Judiciary.\r\nMany bitter constitutional tussles between various factions, which might result\r\nin the intervention of a third force, can be got resolved through references to\r\nthe Court, and whatever the decision, favourable or unfavourable, should be\r\naccepted with good grace. This would at least have one advantage, namely that\r\nthe Court or the Judges acting as a 3rd party would not tend to occupy the seat\r\nof power and take over the Government. As such, if, a 3rd party has, per force\r\nto be required to intervene, the Courts would, in my opinion, be a better\r\nchoice. I would add that unless otherwise warranted by circumstances, it would\r\nbe more beneficial if these judgments are then construed as having \u0027prospective\r\noperation, and not meant to undo the existing state of affairs.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eThe Courts would always be\r\navailable and willing to perform their duty under the most adverse\r\ncircumstances. They are independent and shall always remain independent, of,\r\nall external influences. Any opinion to the contrary is not justified.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eSimilarly the view that only\r\nthose judgments are correct, which correspond to one\u0027s own views or only those\r\nJudges are \u0027Independent\u0027 who give a decision against the Government of the day,\r\nis not justified.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e17. The real challenge for the\r\njudiciary in my opinion is the extraordinary delay in disposal of cases and the\r\naccumulation of a huge backlog. Within a few months of my being elevated to the\r\nBench of the Lahore High Court I became aware of the difference between\r\ninstitution of cases and their disposal. I noticed that RSAs used to come up\r\nfor hearing\u0027 before the High Court after about 18 years of their having been\r\nfiled. [Now 24 years]. While Rent cases, in which stay orders had been\r\nobtained, were fixed for hearing, after 7 to 8 years of their filing.\r\nObviously, therefore, as far as the litigants are concerned the Court might as\r\nwell not have existed.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eI had always advocated that for\r\nquicker disposal of cases we must have more judges. But then there has been\r\nsufficient increase in number of Judges, I do not know if we would want to have\r\na still larger number. It appears that some other procedural methods may, now\r\nhave to be adopted by the Courts and the Bar with mutual consultation, to\r\ncurtail delays.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eIn 1976 the pendency in Lahore\r\nHigh Court was 28,000 cases. Today it is about 48,000. In 1949, when I became\r\nan advocate, there were 7 Judges in Lahore High Court. When I became a Judge in\r\n1970, there were 18 Judges. Now I am told, there are 40 Judges in the same\r\nCourt. Federal Court of Pakistan began with 5 Judges. Now we have as many as 13\r\nJudges in the Supreme Court, for a population of 100 million, whereas in the \u003cst1:country-region\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003eUnited\r\n  States\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:country-region\u003e there are only 9 Supreme Court Judges\r\nfor population of 220 million people. The House of Lords too has only 9 Law\r\nLords.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e18. As I have already stated,\r\ndelay in disposal of cases is the main criticism levelled against the present\r\njudicial system. No doubt all citizens of \u003cst1:country-region\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003ePakistan\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:country-region\u003e\r\nhave access to Courts of Law. Courts, like the \u003cst1:place\u003e\u003cst1:PlaceName\u003eAwari\u003c/st1:PlaceName\u003e\r\n \u003cst1:PlaceType\u003eTowers\u003c/st1:PlaceType\u003e\u003c/st1:place\u003e, are open to all. But can\r\nevery one afford the luxury? And then again, having entered it once, it is,\r\nvery difficult, indeed to get out. The general impression, with considerable\r\njustification, is that it is hardly possible for a litigant to get his suit\r\ndecided within his lifetime. Obtaining justice from Courts is not only time\r\nconsuming but also frightfully expensive. Even a cursory examination would show\r\nthat as far as the parties are concerned, proceedings in our Courts are\r\nessentially skip to \u0027Trial by Combat!, where the battle is fought by proxy. The\r\nparty who can afford a more skilful swordsman is most likely to win. We, the\r\nlawyers and Judges, working within the system, feel that it is functioning very\r\nwell, but let us admit, that public in general is fed up with having to wait so\r\nlong. And soon they may be forced to seek justice outside the Court, by extra\r\nlegal methods. Neither the litigents nor the Government, can do anything. It is\r\nwe, ourselves, the lawyers and the Judges, who must face the reality; accept\r\nthe responsibility and try to improve matters without further delay. Time is\r\nrunning out. Something must be done before the system collapses under the\r\nweight of its own backlog or before someone else may find the delays to be a\r\ngood excuse to sweep away the whole system with one stroke, as might well have\r\nhappened.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e19. The correctness of the\r\ncriticism regarding inordinate delay in disposal of cases can be illustrated by\r\na case which came up before me at \u003cst1:City\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003eKarachi\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:City\u003e,\r\nwhere, in a suit, arising out of a contract, the contesting party had objected\r\nthat plaintiff should have first invoked the arbitration clause. This gave rise\r\nto a question regarding the meaning and effect of the arbitration clause, as\r\ncontained in the contract. Issues had not yet been framed and the matter went\r\nfrom one Court to another. By the time it came up for hearing before the\r\nSupreme Court, 14 long years had already passed and the question whether or not\r\nthe Arbitration Clause should have been invoked, was still being argued. And\r\nmind you, the issues had not yet been framed. The irony is that this happened\r\nin connection with a law, namely the Arbitration Act, which has been designed\r\nspecially to curtail delays and enable the parties to get their cases disposed\r\nof quickly.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e20. Delays are specially painful\r\nand unconscionable in guardianship and divorce cases. Very often little\r\nchildren are tossed from Court to Court, and handed over from one parent to the\r\nother, for years on end, during which period their psyche is twisted and their\r\nemotions are torn to pieces.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e21. In other cases, where an\r\nunfortunate young woman is compelled to sue for divorce in a Court of law, she\r\nhas to wait for relief so long that her hair become grey and she is far past\r\nmarriagable age.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003e22. Another defect in the system is \u003c/span\u003ethat very often innocent\r\npeople suffer \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003edue \u003c/span\u003eto inordinate\r\ndelay in investigation or trial and have to spend \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003eyears \u003c/span\u003ein jail as under-trial prisoners. And if in the end, they\r\nare discharged or, acquitted, there is no way, in which they can be compensated\r\nfor the agony and misery, the loss of respect that they have suffered and\r\nprecious years that they have lost.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eOn the other hand guilty persons\r\nstand to gain by inordinate delays in investigation or trial because with the\r\npassage of time memory of witnesses is likely to fade and in many cases\r\neye-witnesses \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003ewho \u003c/span\u003einitially felt\r\nmorally bound to support the prosecution and depose in favour of justice, no\r\nlonger feel interested in what they start regarding as involving themselves in\r\nother people\u0027s affairs and unnecessarily incurring the hostility of the accused\r\npersons.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e23. Another result of such delays\r\nis the reluctance of people to invoke the law of Torts.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eDelays inhibit the inclination,\r\nif any, on the part of the aggrieved persons to fight for their civil rights\r\nand file suits for damages. During my 40 years\u0027 experience, I have not come\r\nacross a single case of Tort, except one case for removal of nuisance. And that\r\ntoo on the criminal side. In Pakistan, even if you 1,se a limb through someone\r\nelse\u0027s negligence, you would avoid going to Court \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003eand \u003c/span\u003espending the rest of your life in attending Peshis and even if\r\nper chance, you happen to win, there is hardly any likelihood of getting even\r\nremotely adequate damages.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e24. For the same reasons you\r\nwould rarely find anyone caring to file a suit for damages for defamation\r\nalthough newspapers in \u003cst1:country-region\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003ePakistan\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:country-region\u003e\r\nare replete with libellous and defamatory matters, tearing the reputation of\r\nrespectable persons to shreds. In \u003cst1:country-region\u003e\u003cst1:place\u003eEngland\u003c/st1:place\u003e\u003c/st1:country-region\u003e\r\nand other Western Countries, the Courts keep a strict check on a misuse of\r\nliberty by the Press, by taking prompt action in redressing the grievances of\r\nthe defamed persons by awarding exemplary and deterrent damages against the\r\noffending publishers. Now that the \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003ePress\r\n\u003c/span\u003eLaws have ultimately been repealed in \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003ePakistan, our Courts \u003c/span\u003eshould take up the responsibility of keeping\r\na \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003echeck on excesses \u003c/span\u003ecommitted by\r\nnewspapers and Press in general and act as guardians of the reputation and\r\nhonour of citizens, who have no means available to retaliate in any effective\r\nmanner, except to deny the allegations which as we know, is usually printed by\r\nthe concerned publication, a week or so later in small print, at an obscure\r\nplace on the back \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003epage.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e25. I might also take this\r\nopportunity to \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003espeak \u003c/span\u003eabout\r\nanother aspect which has always been weighing oh my mind, \u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027letter-spacing:.95pt\u0027\u003ei.e.\u003c/span\u003e the tendency of either not awarding\r\ncosts or awarding nominal costs. I would suggest that in order to discourage\r\nfrivolous litigation, Courts should seriously consider the desirability. of\r\nawarding proper costs against the parties ultimately found guilty of having\r\nwasted public time and money and of having caused mental agony and financial\r\nloss to the other side by filing a false or frivolous suit.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eSuch costs must always be actual\r\ncosts incurred by the opposite party and not merely nominal costs as are\r\nawarded at present. In proper cases Courts should not hesitate awarding even\r\npenal costs to deter the filing of false or frivolous suits.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003e26. Before \u003c/span\u003eparting I Would like to say a few words about the adverse\r\nconditions in which our subordinate Judiciary is functioning. They shoulder the\r\nmajor burden of judicial work in the country. But their terms and conditions of\r\nservice are pitiable. These needs to be improved urgently. Trial Courts do not\r\nonly to decide legal issues but have also to record the evidence of witnesses\r\nas well as the judgments in their own hand, which is a strenuous exercise. They\r\nshould be provided with Stenographers; their salaries should be enhanced,\r\narrangements should be made for their transport and they should be provided\r\nresidential accommodation commensurate with their status. District and Sessions\r\nJudges should be provided with bungalows of the same size and quality, if not\r\nbetter, than the Deputy Commissioners, whose judicial orders they can revise or\r\nset aside.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e27. I think my monologue has\r\nalready become too lengthy. \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003eHowever, \u003c/span\u003ebefore\r\nfinishing I must add that I have had very \u003cspan style=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:\r\nbold\u0027\u003ehappy \u003c/span\u003e40 years with you in the field of law, both as lawyer and as\r\na Judge. I have always respected the lawyer and got respect in return. I tried\r\nnever to be loud or rude in Court and in return even Mr. \u003cspan\r\nstyle=\u0027mso-bidi-font-weight:bold\u0027\u003eYousaf \u003c/span\u003eAli Khan has always been kind\r\nto me.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e28. I, therefore, thank you all,\r\nmy colleagues on the Bench and friends at the Bar, and leave this great\r\nInstitution with gratitude and with happy memories.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal style=\u0027text-align:justify\u0027\u003eThank you once again My Lords and\r\nmy friends.\u003co:p\u003e\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal align=center style=\u0027text-align:center\u0027\u003e***\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp class=MsoNormal\u003e\u003co:p\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/o:p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003c/body\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003c/html\u003e\r\n"