VOLTAIRE has said about justice: “It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.” The foundations of a society rest on justice and merit. A justice-less society witnesses the prevalence of the law of jungle.

It is the superiority of strength and power that counts in a society that shears justice and uprightness. The role of religion lies in channelising the domination instinct of man into channels of morality. Religion stands for the protection of the weak by creating a bulwark of justice against tyranny. It lays down canons of morality for man to follow for avoiding tyranny and cruelty.

If the law of jungle were to prevail in a society then the weak can’t survive. Hence it is through justice that the weak can seek redress for their grievances. Societies where justice prevails are sanctuaries of law and merit.

The West has been able to establish ascendancy of law and everything is decided on the basis of merit and justice.

People get justice in every walk of life. The courts follow the law without any discrimination. People get their fundamental rights and any wrong impinging upon those rights is not tolerated.

In Pakistan, trouble starts when officials interpreting rules twist them to give undue advantage to a person whom they wish to favour. Justice delayed is justice denied. This is a normal feature of our courts, which take a long time due to the lengthy procedures to dispose of cases expeditiously.

The lawyers say that, to meet the ends of justice, the procedures laid down must be followed. While no deviation should take place, delaying tactics should be avoided. When cases are delayed, people are denied justice. Procrastination needs to be avoided which is regarded as the thief of time. Hence the need is to dispense justice quickly.

No effort should be spared to make our society justice-oriented. Accountability across the board should be established and institutionalised. Accountability and democracy are the two wheels of the carriage which deliver justice to the people.

Muhammad Yasir Kayani

Kasur

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2016