PESHAWAR, July 3: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan on Saturday stressed the importance of judicial reforms and said that economic prosperity could be achieved through rule of law.

Addressing a provincial judicial conference on 'Role of judiciary in the changed perspective,' Justice Jan said that with the advent of the devolution plan the district judiciary had emerged as an important institution.

"Though its significance in other times cannot be underestimated, the abolition of the erstwhile executive magistracy has devolved added responsibility to district judges," he added.

He urged district judges to remain vigilant towards their assignment in the new set-up.

The chief justice regretted that the institution of district judiciary had remained neglected which, he added, required attention. He emphasized the need for changes in the internal governance structure of judiciary, saying "the whole judicial culture is to change and become dynamic, innovative and sensitive to changing circumstances".

He said it was the right of every citizen to have access to inexpensive and expeditious justice.

He said economic development was badly affected by quality of institutions. That's why, he maintained, judicial reforms were perceived as a means of achieving economic development.

Referring to the NWFP judiciary, the chief justice said: "Every aspect of district judiciary has shown significant improvements: be that reducing delay, expediting disposal of cases, court management, training of judicial officers, construction of court-rooms, improvement in terms and conditions of service, etc."

About 100 participants, including some 70 judges from the district judiciary and officers of the high court, attended the conference.

Other speakers included Justice Nasirul Mulk of the high court, Law and Justice Commission Secretary Dr Faqir Hussain and NWFP Public Service Commission chairman Abdullah.