ISLAMABAD – Chief Justice Designate Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa has vowedto attend to the causes that contribute towards delay in disposition ofcases at all levels of the judicial hierarchy.
Reflecting his priorities at the Full Court Reference on the retirement ofoutgoing Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar in Islamabad on Thursday, he saidthere are about 1.9 million cases pending in the country before all thecourts put together and to handle such a huge number of cases there areonly about 3000 Judges and Magistrates available from top to bottom.
He said it is time to introduce some structural and systemic changes so asto minimize litigation, eliminate unnecessary delays and rationalize theworkload.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said Suo motu exercise of this Court’sjurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution shall be exercisedvery sparingly and only in respect of larger issues of national importance.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said in the recent past there has been a trustdeficit between different organs of the State and every organ has reasonsfor sticking to its declared position. He said time has come when we shouldput our heads together and in the spirit of truth and reconciliationdiscuss the larger issues jeopardizing good governance.
The Chief Justice designate said let us discuss with open minds where thejudiciary, the executive and the legislature have gone wrong in the past.He said the issues of alleged encroachment of the executive domain by thejudiciary through interference in matters of policy and the allegedexcessive use of its constitutional jurisdiction in administrative mattersalso needs to be discussed.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said let us also discuss the role of the armedforces and the intelligence agencies in the governance paradigm. Civiliansupremacy as well as civilian accountability are sine qua non fordemocratic sustainability. He said it should also be deliberated howcivilian supremacy can be ensured alongside civilian accountability withoutthe process of accountability destabilizing democracy.
The Chief Justice designate proposed holding of an inter-institutionaldialogue at the summit level with President of Pakistan to be chaired.
He also asked for com Chief Justice Designate Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosahas vowed to attend to the causes that contribute towards delay indisposition of cases at all levels of the judicial hierarchy.
Reflecting his priorities at the Full Court Reference on the retirement ofoutgoing Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar in Islamabad today, he said thereare about 1.9 million cases pending in the country before all the courtsput together and to handle such a huge number of cases there are only about3000 Judges and Magistrates available from top to bottom.
Read Top Stories
He said it is time to introduce some structural and systemic changes so asto minimize litigation, eliminate unnecessary delays and rationalize theworkload.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said Suo motu exercise of this Court’sjurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution shall be exercisedvery sparingly and only in respect of larger issues of national importance.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said in the recent past there has been a trustdeficit between different organs of the State and every organ has reasonsfor sticking to its declared position. He said time has come when we shouldput our heads together and in the spirit of truth and reconciliationdiscuss the larger issues jeopardizing good governance.
The Chief Justice designate said let us discuss with open minds where thejudiciary, the executive and the legislature have gone wrong in the past.He said the issues of alleged encroachment of the executive domain by thejudiciary through interference in matters of policy and the allegedexcessive use of its constitutional jurisdiction in administrative mattersalso needs to be discussed.
Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said let us also discuss the role of the armedforces and the intelligence agencies in the governance paradigm. Civiliansupremacy as well as civilian accountability are sine qua non fordemocratic sustainability. He said it should also be deliberated howcivilian supremacy can be ensured alongside civilian accountability withoutthe process of accountability destabilizing democracy.
The Chief Justice designate proposed holding of an inter-institutionaldialogue at the summit level with President of Pakistan to be chaired.
He also asked for coming up with a Charter of Governance to avoid pastmistakes. ing up with a Charter of Governance to avoid past mistakes.
