HARIPUR: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan on Thursday called for the accountability of all members of the judiciary.

“First of all, I present myself for accountability over my 31 years long judicial service,” the chief justice told lawyers during a function here.

Judges of the Peshawar High Court’s Abbottabad Bench, members of the district judiciary, law officers, and representatives of the high court and district bar associations attended the event.

The CJ said his act of presenting himself for accountability would give a message to all judges that they all are equally accountable for their actions.

He said after becoming part of the judiciary, he vowed not to hand down “wrong” judgement in any case.

“Though cases are decided on the basis of the evidence produced before courts, whenever he as a judge felt that someone was wrongly convicted by a lower court, he tried his best to facilitate a compromise between parties,” he said.

Justice Ibrahim said he would make the elevation of judges “purely on merit”.

He said the best judge should be God-fearing, kind and bold, and should possess high moral standards and respect lawyers and complainants.

The CJ said lawyers should develop a rapport with the judiciary to ensure close liaison between the bar and the bench.

He asked police to work for the rule and supremacy of the law and send cases to the courts after “honest” investigation and said innocent people shouldn’t be booked for crimes.

Justice Ibrahim lauded the role of lawyers for the supremacy of the Constitution and the law as frontline heroes.

He said he tried to help estranged couples strike compromises in hundreds of cases.

The CJ said he was ready to ensure that staff members of judges are not involved in any kind of gratification, temptation or and greed, and strict against those found guilty of such malpractices.

He earlier inaugurated the “bar club” in the old building of the district courts and a new office for lawyers.

Justice Ibrahim also visited the consumer court and attended a briefing by president officer Muneera Abbasi about the cases.

He also announced the shifting of revenue courts and labour offices to the old building and said two computers, Internet connection and a digital lab with required staff would be provided to the new judicial complex.

Earlier, president of the district bar association Asad Saeed Khan presented a charter of demand.

The CJ also visited the Haripur Central Prison and attended a briefing on the number of prisoners and facilities offered to them. He went to different sections and met prisoners.

The CJ ordered action on the issues of inmates, especially for speedy disposal of cases by trial courts.

On the occasion, 14 people imprisoned for petty crimes were freed.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2023