ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: A delegation of Supreme Court Bar Association comprising 21 executive members led by its president Asma Jehangir called on Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Friday and suggested certain measures to expedite justice system and remove problems faced by the lawyer’s community.

During the meeting, the chief justice appreciated selflessness and dedication put in by SCBA President Asma Jehangir that resulted in achieving many milestones. He said that the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution would be maintained at all costs. “The way forward for the nation is to strictly follow the Constitution,” the chief justice observed saying the advocates of the Supreme Court as well as high courts always cooperated with judiciary in the speedy disposal of the cases.

About the longstanding demands of the lawyers appearing in the Supreme Court regarding absence of appropriate accommodation in the federal capital, the chief justice said that a break through in this regard had been achieved as the president SCBA had not only acquired a piece of land to build an accommodation but also sufficient funds had been collected.

The SCBA members said that a committee be constituted comprising outgoing president and general secretary, incoming president and general secretary of the SCBA and two prominent senior lawyers to oversee the project. They said that the committee might be headed by a judge of the Supreme Court to be nominated by the CJP. The chief justice assured that a judge of the Supreme Court would be nominated as chairman of the committee in due course of time.Admiring the services rendered by the office-bearers and SCBA president, the chief justice observed that her tenure was about to end but she had contributed a lot for the betterment of the institution which would always be remembered. “We are making all-out efforts for early disposal of cases and it can be made possible only with the cooperation of the bar, the CJP maintained.

The chief justice informed the SCBA president that rate of adjournments in the apex court had enhanced which needed to be discouraged. Similarly, the rate of general adjournments had also increased. He said while making general adjournments, the members of the bar might be asked to make alternate arrangements to avoid unnecessary adjournments.

Asma Jehangir appreciated the efforts on the part of the chief justice to provide relief to people who have great expectations with the judiciary. She reiterated that she would continue to work for the cause of independent and functional judicial system in the country.