June 25, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 09, 1428

BAHAWALPUR, June 24: Both the bar and bench have expressed their dismay over the slow pace of dispensation of justice by the apex courts in the country.

At a farewell held at the lawns of LHC Bahawalpur bench on Saturday night in the honour of Justice Muhammad Farrukh Mahmood on his retirement, judges, lawyers and office-bearers of high court bar association said there was an urgent need to bring about positive changes in the system to provide quick and expeditious justice to the people.

Justice M.A.Shahid Siddiqui of the LHC raised the question of supremacy of law and the Constitution. He said the judicial system could be strengthened only by its independence and non-interference.

Justice Jahangir Arshad stressed the need for clearing the backlog of cases. He underscored the need to meet the shortage of LHC judges, particularly on the criminal side. He also suggested elevation of judges within the LHC’s benches.

Bahawalpur High Court Bar Association President Malik Saeed Ijaz said during his six years in service, Justice Muhammad Farrukh Mahmood took decisions in over 5,000 cases in addition to 2,000 murder references.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mahmood said a judge should always be above all sorts of prejudices.

Office-bearers of district and tehsil bars also spoke.