KHUZDAR: The Balochistan High Court chief justice has said the people of Balochistan have great expectations from the judiciary, but they suffer if courts are unable to help them when lawyers are on strike.

Speaking at a reception hosted by lawyers during his visit to the sessions court in Khuzdar on Monday, Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan said the bar and the bench were two pillars of the judicial system. “There is no friendship between them. Instead, they enjoy a relationship of respect for each other,” the chief justice said.

He advised lawyers not to “politicise personal differences” and thrash out a code of conduct in this regard.

Justice Naeem Afghan said the court would never be “a part of bar politics”.

Referring to a suggestion about separation of Lasbela and Hub bar associations, the chief justice said no decision had been taken so far. He said out of 100 cases pending at the Turbat circuit bench, 65 were being heard by two-judge benches and 35 by single benches.

“A court exists in Nokundi, but lawyers are not available,” CJ Afghan said. He also visited Gadani jail and spoke to prisoners about their problems.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2023