SLAMABAD - Judge Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, has said that the role of a judge in any society was pivotal to keep balance, adding, “Judges’ role in any society is similar that of a tight-rope artist.”He expressed these views in one week orientation course on “Sessions trial and appreciation of evidence” for Additional District and Sessions Judges from all over Pakistan including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltitsan here in the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA), Islamabad, on Monday.He said, “This is not the end of the world. While sitting on the bench, the Judges should not forget their prominent role in the society. They should realize that their role is pivotal to put the society on the path to peace and progress.”In order to enlighten the course participant, he related the incident of Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa (R.A) and the destitute old lady who used to live on the outskirts of Madina and one day Imam could see her that she was about to fall and he hurried to help her from falling on the ground. In this situation an inspiring and historical interaction took place between the two. However, the moral of that interaction can be summed up as: Qazi (Judge) must act as Judge, he should not fall into error because when an individual like the old lady falls or declines it is, indeed, the fall/decline of one particular individual but when the Imam/Qazi (Judge) falls into error, then, it is the decline/ fall of the entire society.”“This much importance, this much prominence has been accorded to Qazi (Judge) in our religion Islam and in its jurisprudence. We must have to reflect on it and act accordingly,” he maintained.The judge also related one hadtih concerning the Mukhzumi woman who committed a theft; the Holy Prophet had a serious and severe attitude. No intermediary, however noble even if the issue concerns the nearest people to him, can intercede to abolish or relieve a punishment ordained by Allah. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) showed utter displeasure upon the intercessor, Usama Ibn Zayd, his beloved companion by saying, “Do you intercede to vitiate a punishment legalized by Allah. Then he started to deliver a speech. He said, “O people, those who lived before you would only punish the weak when committing a theft and leave the noble. By Allah, had Fatima bint Muhammad committed a theft, I would have cut off her hand.” The judge urged the course participants to think and act up on this glorious message of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) and administer justice to the people without any fear or favour.About the administration of justice, he said, “Administration of justice is not confined to the courts only but it is also indispensable in all walks of life. We have to be just, fair and transparent in all walks of life. It is pitiable that neither as Muslims nor as the citizens of the country we give our evidence fairly, justly and honestly. I believe that in such circumstances the task of our judges is gigantic but they have to put in practice their insight, acumen, prudence to get to the truth, to sift out the truth and discard the false. If you (Judges) are going to perform your task fairly, justly and faithfully, every passing day makes my faith unshakable and firm, that our country will progress and become one of the most developed and prosperous country in the world.”Earlier, Parvaiz Ali Chawla, DG of the Academy presented his welcome speech and illuminated the participants about the aims and objects of the Academy and said that this like trainings did not only build the capacity of the trainees but also build, promote and strengthen the spirit of judicial fraternity among the judicial officers across the country.Hashim Abro, spokesman of the Academy said that eighteen Additional District and Sessions Judges were undergoing this one -week training here in the Academy - and two them are female Judges from KPK district judiciary.