September 18, 2007	Tuesday	Ramazan 05, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: The Supreme Court was following a policy of least adjournments so that cases could be disposed of quickly, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said here on Monday.

He was talking to members of a delegation of the Kharian tehsil bar association. The delegation was led by bar president Chaudhry Sajid Mahmood.

The Chief Justice said that the Supreme Court had been successful in its policy of quick disposal of cases.

“We hope that the lawyers’ fraternity and subordinate courts would also follow this policy,” he said.

Justice Iftikhar said that the successful movement of the lawyers had restored the respect of judiciary, the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution.

“The movement was not meant for the person of the Chief Justice but for restoring the respect of the judiciary as an institution,” he said.

He said that responsibilities of the lawyers’ fraternity had increased with the restoration of the respect of judiciary.

“The members of civil society participated in your cause and it is now lawyers’ turn to come up to expectations of civil society in the same way, and provide them services through their profession,” he added.

Justice Iftikhar said that if lawyers and judiciary understood their responsibilities towards society, they could tackle this issue, it would be a great service to the community and the respect given to them by civil society would increase manifold.

Replying to a question about corruption in the lower judiciary, the Chief Justice said that in the last NJPMC meeting, it had been recommended that judges of high courts should monitor the performance of lower courts and visit them regularly to stem this trend.

Justice Rana Bhagwandas and Registrar of the Supreme Court Dr Faqir Hussain were present on the occasion.—APP