'I cannot fix judicial system alone' - chief justice

PESHAWAR: Referring to much-talked-about judicial reforms, Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar, said on Wednesday that he couldn’t fix the whole judicial system alone.

Addressing a ceremony in Peshawar on Wednesday, the top judge said no compromise would be made on provision of fundamental rights to the people.

The CJP underlined that it was the duty of judges to dispense justice. “The judiciary must galvanize into action against justice being delayed in the country”.

“I cannot make a law, I can only implement it,” said the chief justice.

Read: ‘Heard a lot about good governance’ – CJP summons CM Khattak during Peshawar visit

Meanwhile, the CJP said he was there to apologize to the Bar Council of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if he had committed a mistake. He apologised to his legal fraternity over the denial of full court reference to recently retired apex court judge, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan.

“Those who seek forgiveness with sincerity should be forgiven,” said the chief justice.

The chief justice said he was still ready to hold a full court reference for the Supreme Court judge. Mr. Nisar asserted that he was still unsure about the reasons behind the denial of his former fellow judge regarding the full court reference.

‘All the judges of the apex court had finalised preparations for extending a full court reference to the judge, but Dost Muhammad refused to attend the gathering’, asserted the CJP.

It bears mentioning that in an unprecedented development, justice Dost Muhammad had declined to attend the reception of the Supreme Court as well as of bar associations on the eve of his retirement.

Justice Dost Muhammad Khan retired on March 19, 2018.

However, in a surprise move, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan refused to attend farewell in his honour citing his personal family engagements. The SC judge did not attend any reception either from the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) or the Pakistan Bar Council before he called it a day.