CJP Nisar explains ‘Baba Rehmate’ is one who facilitates people

LAHORE: Baba Rehmate ( wise old man ) seemed to have become synonymous with the judiciary after Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar’s so frequent use of this term to refer to the judiciary.

In his speech in December, last year, the chief justice for the first time used the analogy of a baba (a wise old man), saying: “the judiciary is your baba. Don’t doubt its integrity”.

Subsequently, the term often echoed in courtroom, public circles, parliament and on social media.

While hearing a case at the apex court’s Lahore registry today, the chief justice said people would tell him that Baba Rehmate just kept going amid criticism.

He affirmed he didn’t care a fig for what people have to say or indulge in criticism of him. “I tell you today where I got the concept of Baba from,” he said.

He explained he drew the analogy from the work of famed writer Ashfaq Ahmed. “A baba is he who facilitates people,” he spelled out.

The chief justice had taken up a case with regard to fee structure of private medical colleges.

He said the court was not going to order closure of any private medical college, adding that provision of education had turned into a business, but medical education should be spared.

There also were such doctors who didn’t even know how to check blood pressure, he said, adding that there shouldn’t be excessive hike in fees to put unreasonable burden on people.