KARACHI, June 1: The legal system is losing its grip and remedial measures are long overdue, Justice M. Sadiq Leghari said at a full court reference on the eve of his retirement as a judge of the Sindh High Court.

On the positive side, he said, he has witnessed important improvements in the working of the judiciary during the 32 years he remained associated with the institution in various capacities.

The judiciary has expanded, modern equipment has been provided to courts and new buildings have been constructed for judges and lawyers.

A number of landmark decisions were delivered by the superior courts during the period, including one for separation of the judiciary from the executive and another for judicial restraint if interference were to result in greater injustice.

On the other side, the judge said, the graph of litigation had gone up and delay in disposal of cases has increased. The number of absconders stood at 19000.

The crime situation has worsened and people have been compelled to hire private security guards in ever larger numbers. “This shows that the grip of legal system is loosening”, he added.

Certain measures have been taken to improve the situation but they proved inadequate. The problem required a thorough analysis and identification of causes followed by suitable remedial steps, which brook no delay, Justice Leghari said.

He thanked Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed, senior puisne judge Ghulam Rabbani, Sindh Bar Council Vice-Chairman Asif Ali A. Razzak Soomro, High Court Bar Association President M. Ilyas Khan, Federal Government Standing Counsel Mahmood Alam Rizvi, Additional Advocate-General Abbas Ali and Karachi Bar Association President Mehmoodul Hasan for their compliments.

CJ Sabihuddin Ahmed praised Justice Leghari’s dedication to the cause of justice. Mr Ilyas Khan, Mr Mahmood Rizvi, Mr Abbas Ali and Mr Hasan said he always gave a patient hearing to lawyers and decided matters after meticulously applying his mind to the various aspects involved.

SBC Vice-Chairman Razzak Soomro said he first practised before Justice Leghari when he was the district and sessions judge of Larkana in 1991. He offered valuable advice to lawyers, which helped them do their job with diligence.

Justice Leghari decided cases without fear and favour and apprised the counsel appearing before him of the weakness of their cases by making queries so that the lawyers got an opportunity to clarify the points made by them, he said.