Chief justice of Pakistan to visit Chitral
ISLAMABAD: A delegation from Chitral Bar Association, led by its President Sajid Ullah, called on Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, says a press release.
The chief justice welcomed the delegation and said as part of his commitment to strengthening access to justice in remote areas, he would visit Booni Upper Chitral soon. He emphasized the essential role of both the bench and the bar in ensuring an effective dispensation of justice, adding their collaboration was fundamental to upholding the rule of law.
He reiterated that without the support and cooperation of the legal fraternity, the objective of a fair and efficient justice system cannot be fully realized.
The delegation apprised the chief justice of the challenges faced by the Chitral Bar Association and litigants and capacity-building initiatives for bar members, particularly given the geographical remoteness of the Chitral district.
The chief justice assured the delegation of his commitment in addressing their concerns under the Access to Justice program. Additionally, he instructed the Federal Judicial Academy to organize training programs for the legal practitioners of Chitral through a professional development course under the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) aimed at enhancing their legal expertise and professional growth.
The president of Lower Chitral Sajidullah Khan is infringing upon the rights of Chitrali lawyers as evident from his meeting with the top judge of the country along with a group of lawyers who do not even practice in Chitral, with only a few exceptions.
For example, our friend Samsam Ali Raza Advocate, a lawyer based in Karachi, was seen more interested in displaying his Chitrali Pakol, instead of highlighting the issues faced by the local bars – both upper and lower Chitral.
I would also advise Samsam Ali Raza Advocate to refrain from politicizing everything for the sake of a mere photo session, as he is no longer a tiny high court lawyer.
Some days ago, Lower Chitral bar president Sajidulah Khan was also seen meeting with a few cabinet ministers of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Administration with the help of Ghazala Anjum, who has already lost her seat, and Abdul Wali Khan Advocate, a local PMLN lawyer. Once again, he was the lone warrior in his meeting with Yahya Afridi, completely ignoring other cabinet members of the bar, indicating that he does not like other lawyers in such gatherings.
Why does he seek the support of politicians and outsider lawyers rather than meeting with the top judge or XYZ along with a delegation of Chitral-based lawyers if he is so eager to meet dignitaries and highlight the issues facing the bar associations in Chitral?
Sahib Nadir Khan Advocate, perhaps the most senior lawyer in Chitral, should have at least cautioned president Sajidullah Khan against betraying the votes of the legal community, who have placed their trust in him.
I recommend that my fellow lawyers in Chitral to file a no-confidence motion against the self-proclaimed bar president immediately because he does not deserve to continue as a genuine representative of local lawyers.
Both Sahib Nadir Khan and Niaz A Niazi should also be issued show-cause notices for misrepresenting the bar association by meeting the Chief Justice along with a group of lawyers, most of whom, do not even reside in Chitral.