Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Umar Ata Bandial, addressed various legal matters during the opening of the new judicial year in the Supreme Court, where he highlighted the challenges faced by the judiciary and emphasized the importance of maintaining an independent and efficient judicial system.
Justice Bandial acknowledged the burden of pending cases and confessed to not wanting to revisit past events, particularly those related to the famous Al-Azizia reference case. He stated that all events were part of the judicial decisions made in the Al-Azizia case, and he did not wish to reopen those issues.
He discussed the performance of the Supreme Court over the past year, noting that the court had disposed of approximately 23,000 cases during his tenure as Chief Justice. While he had aimed to reduce the number of pending cases, the reduction was not as significant as he had hoped, with only a decrease of around 2,000 cases. Nevertheless, he expressed satisfaction with the overall progress and commitment of the judiciary.
Regarding the Chief Justice of Pakistan nomination, Mr. Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Bandial extended his best wishes and positive sentiments, mentioning that he had enjoyed a good working relationship with all his fellow judges. He highlighted the importance of unity among judges in upholding the law and serving justice.
Justice Bandial also provided an update on the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams fund, revealing that it had received an additional contribution of Rs. 4 billion in August 2023. He emphasized that the fund’s growth was a testament to the public’s trust in the Supreme Court. Currently, the funds are being invested in the State Bank, with a total of Rs. 18 billion and Rs. 60 crore invested in the account.
He further mentioned that a five-member bench of the Supreme Court is overseeing the management of the Dams fund to ensure transparency and accountability in its utilization.
Justice Bandial’s address highlighted the judiciary’s commitment to resolving pending cases, maintaining the independence of the judiciary, and managing important national funds for the construction of dams. The challenges faced by the judicial system, including the backlog of cases, were acknowledged, but the dedication to justice and the rule of law remained at the forefront of his message.
