LAHORE: In his last address as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Khawaja Muhammad Sharif tendered an apology on the police torture on Lahore Bar lawyers in September. Khawaja Sharif was addressing at a Full Court farewell reference on Wednesday in his courtroom on the day of his retirement.
Khawaja Sharif took charge as Lahore High Court Chief Justice on April 14 2009 and retired on Wednesday (Dee 8) upon reaching the superannuation age of 62. He warmly congratulated the incumbent LHC chief justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry on his appointment as his successor.
Addressing the Full Court reference held in his honour on the occasion of his retirement Wednesday, Justice Khawaja Sharif regretted the incident saying that the tension between the bar and bench at that time was created by a particular group in the lawyers which also made the honorable office of the chief justice a target of its criticism.
“But I apologize if anyone was hurt by my conduct in any manner during my term as Chief Justice”, Khawaja Sharif said after being accused again in the address of Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) Vice Chairman Mumtaz Mustafa who held the CJ responsible for ‘all’ tensions between the bench and bar and the violence against lawyers.
Chief Justice designate Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhary, all LHC judges, Advocate General Punjab Khawaja Harris Ahmad, Vice Chairman, Punjab Bar Council (Pb BC) Mumtaz Mustafa, respective president of the High Court Bar Association, principal seat Lahore, Multan bench, Bahawapur bench , and Rawalpindi bench, and Deputy Attorney General also spoke on the occasion.
New CJ’s makes vow: Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhary vowed to uphold merit and impartiality in decisions on the cases during his stint and that he would not accept pressure from any side in that course.
He said they were proud that they did not take oath under the PCO on November 3, 2007 and said his efforts would be directed towards making the institution of judiciary stronger, respectable and improve bench and bar relations.
He said he would be fair and honestly impart justice which would go a long way to inspire the confidence the public in the judiciary. He eulogised the abilities of Justice Sharif and said he always received the affection of an elder brother from the outgoing CJ and learnt a lot from him particularly in terms of imparting justice in criminal cases. Justice Ijaz said during the stint of Justice Sharif, the judiciary faced a critical period but by the hard work and acumen of the outgoing CJ all problems were surmounted. He said he would use the path shown to him by Justice Sharif as a beacon for him to discharge his professional duties.
Remembering Nov 3: Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif in his address recalled the deposition of the superior court judges in the wake of November 3, 2007 PCO and said it was unprecedented that judges once thrown out of the office, got restored. He said he served the judiciary for 12 years and today he was leaving the office with honour.
During his tenure as Chief Justice, he said, he came across many hard moments and crisis but he always defeated the problems with the cooperation of his fellow judges.
Young lawyers restless: Referring to the tension between the bench and bar on the issue of transfer of the District and Sessions Judge, Lahore he said, some young lawyers felt the issue did not settle as per their wishes. He felt serious regrets over the police torture on the lawyers of the Lahore Bar and said, he was also criticised for the condemnable act of the police by that group of lawyers who went to the extent of disrespecting even the office of the CJ in that course.
He said he believed that the incident was instigated by a particular group to get its own interest promoted. He said Lahore Bar had always been very close to his heart as he had spent almost his entire professional life in the bar. “It was with this in mind that I he immediately directed the IGP to release the arrested lawyers of the bar,” he said.
Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif also recollected the projects initiated at the bar for the welfare of the lawyers and also the steps he took to improve the financial and working conditions of the judicial officers as well as to end corruption in their ranks.
He also welcomed Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhary on succeeding him in the office and prayed for his success. PbBC Vice Chairman Mumtaz Mustafa said with heavy heart that during the period of Justice Khawaja Sharif the unpleasant clash between the bench and bar took place, which he viewed, took a serious turn because delay in meeting demand of the lawyers for the transfer of the D&S Judge, Lahore.
He expressed the hope that bench and bar would enjoy good relations during the period of Justice Ijaz Chaudhry. Later on the all the judges of the court, law officers and senior lawyers gave Justice Sharif a send off which was also marked by a guard of honour by the police contingent.
