Chief justice says legislative inaction on reforms ails judicial system

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar said on Saturday that inordinate delay in delivery of justice is a big problem which warranted solution.

Addressing a ceremony here, the chief justice said, “We cannot make laws, it is the duty of legislature to make laws and introduce reforms.”

He said the masses should have access to swift and cheap justice, but there were complaints of delay in dispensation of justice in almost every country.

Tracing the reasons of delay in provision of justice, CJP Nisar said the judges were overburdened with backlog of cases owing to shortage of judges.

“The Supreme Court does not go beyond its jurisdiction, and work well within its limits. But, whose duty is to introduce reforms,” he asked.

He said law-making was not our responsibility, but no one had ever paid heed to reforms to cure ailing judicial system.

While the judiciary couldn’t bring reforms in the judicial system, the courts were working according to their limited resources, the chief justice said.

He clarified that he was not criticizing those responsible for legislation.

Dispelling the notion that the courts were responsible for setting free culprits, the CJP said unfortunately, investigation is carried out in a substandard manner.

Many criminals succeeded in getting off the hook owing to weak prosecution and eventually the blame for letting culprits walk away unscathed is parked at the door of the judiciary.

Except Punjab, he regretted, he had not seen forensic lab of good standards in other parts of the country.