ISLAMABAD, March 20: President Asif Ali Zardari, welcoming the restored judges to their pre-Nov 3, 2007 position, said on Friday it was time to forget the past and move on.

“We welcome all the restored judges to their pre-Nov 3, 2007 positions. It is time to look forward and build on what has been achieved. It is time to forget the past. It is time to move on,” he stressed.

The president was speaking at a farewell dinner at Aiwan-i-Sadr in honour of Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who would retire on Saturday.

The dinner was attended, among others, by the prime minister, Senate chairman, National Assembly Speaker, federal ministers, Supreme Court judges, services chiefs and the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Mr Zardari said: “Nations progress through evolution and continuity. We have witnessed our state institutions repeatedly receiving blows from interventions.

“But we have also witnessed them bouncing back and emerging stronger after every blow.”

The president made a veiled reference to the tug of war over judges’ reinstatement. “It has been our vision that the institutions should grow and gain strength through evolution and continuity. However, our vision may not have been shared by all. Some were even critical. This is the price leaders have to pay.”

Mr Zardari said that early this week the remaining deposed judges of superior courts were restored, adding “their restoration should be seen as another step in the evolutionary process of strengthening institutions”.

He said that he would always bow before the judges, no matter whether he was the president or an ordinary citizen.

“My lords. You have seen me appearing and bowing before you in the courts. Today, as I stand here as the President of Pakistan I once again bow before the majesty of your lordships.

“I will continue to bow before the lordships, no matter what is my station in life, and whatever the age and clime,” he said.

The president said that Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar had retired at the end of a long and eventful career in the judiciary, spanning over many long years. “I wish to commend Chief Justice Dogar and wish him good luck in his future life,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the outgoing chief justice said that whatever he did as a judge he did keeping in view the best interests of justice and the country.

He said that retirement was a fact of life and every one had to retire some day.—APP
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