ISLAMABAD, June 28: Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui has said he did not find the Supreme Court in a good shape when he took over as chief justice and that he had to work hard to improve the apex court’s image.

Speaking at a farewell dinner hosted in his honour by Saarc Law (Islamabad chapter) at the Islamabad Club the other day, the outgoing CJ, who is retiring on June 29, said he was grateful to the legal community for cooperating with him in improving the image of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice designate Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, judges of the Supreme Court, high courts, NAB Prosecutor General Irfan Qadir, Advocate General Punjab Aftab Iqbal Chaudhry, members of the Pakistan Bar Council, deputy attorney generals and a large number of advocates attended the ceremony.

Earlier, Saarc Law (Islamabad chapter) President M.Bilal said tension was high and coordination between the bench and the bar was non-existent before Justice Siddiqui took over as CJ.

He appreciated that the CJ took revolutionary steps to remove differences and misunderstandings between the bench and the bar.

Mr Bilal said Saarc had attained so much importance in the region that representatives of the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank also attended the recently-held 11th Saarc Law conference and 8th chief justices meeting in Bhutan.

Established on October 24, 1991, Saarc law is an association of the legal communities of Saarc countries. It comprises judges, lawyers, academicians, law teachers and public officers, Mr Bilal said. He also announced that an international law moot would soon be held in Karachi or Islamabad.

Saarc Law Vice-President Justice (retired) Chaudhry Mushtaq Khan appreciated the steps taken by the outgoing CJ to eradicate corruption in the apex court.