HONOURABLE Mr Chief Justice, since you have assumed office you have taken some very bold steps as under

1) No Judge to take acting charge of the governor.

2) Judges not to accept any government posting or assignment.

3) Judges on deputation to return'

4) Creation of an anti corruption cell, headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, within the Supreme Court.

5) Rent and other cases to be decided in months.

6) Recommendation to reduce petroleum prices.

7) Inquiry into sale of government lands at throwaway prices etc.

But what about lawyers who charge their clients hefty professional fees running into millions and yet choose to pursue cases at their own sweet will, and what about counsel who keep demanding different kinds of amounts from litigants at different stages and yet keep seeking adjournments?

Your Lordship, the judiciary alone will never be able to end the backlog of cases unless the lawyers community is also willing to do so. The two will have to work hand in glove.

So, please devise a code of conduct for our lawyers as well. A fine line exists between realism and pessimism and, therefore, no matter what one may say or think, the fact is that justice in Pakistan until now has been a commodity available only to the filthy rich and the extremely powerful.

ABDUL SALAM

Karachi