PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth has said that both bar and bench were important components of judicial system and their coordination was vital for providing justice to people.

Addressing the oath-taking ceremony of newly-elected cabinet of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) here, the chief justice assured the legal fraternity that all their genuine demands related to the high court would be fulfilled.

In his brief speech, Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth asked the new cabinet to have a meeting with him to discuss the pressing issues related to the association. He stated it had remained his endeavour to remain in touch with the bar to know about their problems and resolve them. The chief justice administered oath to the cabinet members.

Newly-elected president of the association, Khalid Anwar Afridi, said that the trial against Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the non-elevation of Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth, the senior-most chief justice of a high court in the country, to the Supreme Court were the two major issues of grave concern for the association and legal fraternity.

He said that one of the main issues concerning this bar and the country was rule of law. He said that all the persons should be subject to law and no individual or institutions howsoever powerful or resourceful should be treated differently.

Khalid Anwar stated that they would have to make the profession of law friendlier especially for female lawyers.

He said that presently there was only one female on the bench in the high court whereas there were several competent female lawyers as well as judicial officers qualified to become a judge of the high court.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2020