A large number of lawyers and office-bearers of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) showered rose petals on newly-appointed LHC Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and his colleague judges during a ‘handshake ceremony’ of the bench and bar on Friday. The CJ accompanied with all LHC judges visited the bar on an invitation from LHCBA President Asghar Gill for a reception and spent around 45 minutes at the Kayani Hall of the bar. Gill along with other office-bearers of the bar received the CJ and congratulated him on taking charge of the LHC.
It is perhaps due to the fact that Saeed is a friendly judge and lawyers were satisfied on his appointment as CJ and a sort of hope seemed to be twinkling in lawyers’ eyes to see him. Advocate Azhar Siddique, talking to Pakistan Today said that the reception was a wonderful and rare show. The spectacular scene of flying rose petals over the head of honourable judges awoke feeling of awe in the onlookers in the jam-packed Kayani Hall and the bar’s library, he said. Azhar said, “There is no example of such a reception in the recent past for any LHC CJ. At least I have not seen the LHCBA or lawyers rejoicing in such a manner like they did for welcoming the CJ. He is lucky to this extent for sure”. Lawyers hoped that Saeed as the CJ will solve unresolved problems of lawyers and litigants due to the LHC policy of rejecting petitions without hearing with objections of “maintainability”.
The CJ was informed by lawyers that Section 22-A and 22-B of the law had ruined practice of lawyers, as they come for justice to the LHC from far-flung areas for orders to police for registration of FIRs but applications are dismissed by the LHC with directions to approach the sessions court for purpose. The lawyers, including the bar president, requested the CJ to appoint lawyers as LHC judges on merit in consultation with the bar, which they said was not done in tenure of the last CJ.
