In Islamabad, Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandyal of Pakistan has emphasized that the constitution clearly mandates elections to be held 90 days following the dissolution of the assembly.
He expressed his hope that there would be no need for repeated discussions on this matter and that the election timeline would be adhered to. He made these remarks during a dinner hosted in his honor by Abid Zuberi, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
The Chief Justice expressed his desire for wisdom in making sound decisions and a lasting positive legacy in the legal field. He acknowledged the collective effort to uphold the law, highlighting the reduction of pending cases over the past year, though he deemed this progress insufficient.
Justice Bandyal underscored that decisions are institutional rather than individual and commended the court’s unity and efforts to streamline cases. He emphasized the importance of strong Bar Councils to bolster the judiciary’s strength and called for unity among the Supreme Court Bar and High Court Bar.
Regarding the initiation of legal proceedings, he mentioned that the court avoided taking automatic notice and alluded to potential future applications. The Chief Justice stressed the significance of constitutional governance and the desire to prevent recurrent cases.
He lauded the courage of High Court judges and recited a poem related to the Judiciary Restoration Movement, stating that he was among the last to return to the judiciary after its success. There were moments of emotion during his speech.
Abid Zuberi, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, expressed gratitude for the judiciary’s support and emphasized the judiciary’s pivotal role in maintaining the rule of law. He hoped for unity within the judiciary to address pending issues and assure the public of a functioning legal system.
In a separate development, Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandyal relocated from the Chief Justice House to a residence designated for retired judges. Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, the nominated Chief Justice of Pakistan, has been provided with security in accordance with the law and will be sworn in on September 17th.
