PESHAWAR, Jan 26: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan said here on Saturday that judiciary was striving to steer the country out of the existing crises as it wanted continuity of the democratic process.

Although people had lost hope with the present system yet democracy should continue to function in the country as institutions would be ultimately back on the right track if there was continuity in the democratic process, he said.

Addressing the concluding ceremony of a training course for 26 judicial officers at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial academy, the PHC chief justice said that judiciary had been playing its constitutional role so as to redress grievances of people.

He stated that while hearing cases of public importance judges had no personal agenda or motives to follow but their concern was to save the democratic dispensation. He added that survival of the country was not possible without rule of law.

The ceremony was also attended by senior puisne judge of the high court, Justice Miftauddin Khan, director general of the academy, Hayat Ali Shah, PHC Registrar Subhan Sher and others.

The PHC chief justice said that the current year would be very hectic for the judicial academy as apart from different trainings the FM radio station of the academy named “Meezan” would also start functioning from next month. He added that the academy had already got licence from Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority in that regard.

Justice Dost Mohammad Khan said that besides imparting legal education, the radio station would play important role in creating awareness among the people regarding their rights.

The PHC chief justice said that people had attached high hopes with the judiciary and due to the same reason the number of cases in the courts was increased. “Despite having shortage of judges, we have been trying our level best to address their grievances,” he added.

He said that life of a judge was confined to courtroom, chamber and library but still they were able to take notice of public interest issues and corruption in public sector entities whereas different investigation agencies could not trace the wrong doings.

“We had taken notice of illegal conversion of LPG in the oil and gas wellheads in Kohat and referred the issue to NAB for inquiry during which it was proved that there were certain irregularities in the said project. We have now ordered NAB to prepare a reference against the responsible officials and private individuals involved in this LPG scam within a month,” he added.

The PHC chief justice asked the participants of the training to impart what they had learnt to their colleagues when they returned to the districts of their duty.