Juniors betray seniors' trust

Islamabad - Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, one of the eight Sindh High Court (SHC) judges who have taken fresh oath on Wednesday morning, is a "junior" colleague of former Chief Justice and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) candidate for presidential slot, Justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqi.

Similarly Justice Faisal Arab, another judge who took oath Wednesday, is 'junior' colleague of Justice Retired Fakhr-ud-Din G Ibrahim, one of the torchbearers of lawyers' movement and a lawyer of PML-N Chief, Nawaz Sharif.

The relationship between a "senior" and "junior" is always highly respected in legal profession and remains a proud symbol of identity for a junior lawyer throughout his professional career.

The parting of ways between the two of the most open-minded and respected former judges of Pakistan and their juniors is a rare occurrence as the influence of a senior always prevails on his junior in normal cases.

Commenting on the oath-taking of eight SHC judges including his junior, Justice Retired Fakhr-ud-Din G Ibrahim said, "I wish they all had not done it, it is unfortunate".

"However, I do not condemn these judges as we fought together for more than nine months for rule of law and supremacy of Constitution", Justice Ibrahim further said.

Specifically confirming that Justice Faisal Arab was his "junior", Justice Retired Fakhr-ud-Din G Ibrahim said he understands the reasons behind this oath taking but it would have been much better if these SHC judges had shown little more patience.

Justice Retired Saeed uz Zaman Siddiqi, despite several attempts to contact him, was however not available for his comments on his junior's taking oath.

Meanwhile, majority of kingpins of lawyers movement struggling for restoration of judiciary has mourned the decision of eight SHC judges to take fresh oath in order to get back their jobs.

Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Justice Retired Tariq Mehmood has also regretted the oath-taking by eight SHC judges.

"I regret that this has happened but the present leadership, especially PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, is more responsible for the 'misdeed' than the judges who have taken oath after standing up along with Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for almost a year", Justice Tariq said.

Munir A Malik, another senior leader of lawyers' community has also deplored the fresh oath of SHC judges, especially in the back drop of the fact that deposed Chief Justice of Sindh, Justice Sabih-ud-Din Ahmed has been superseded." Now what can I say about restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other deposed judges," he observed.

"Though the reinstated judges claim that their return to offices will help the dispensation of justice for the people of Sindh but I think that they had validated Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar as Chief Justice of Pakistan which is a gross violation of the stance taken by over 60 judges on November 3 last year", Munir A Malik said.  

However, leaders of lawyers community said the movement started by legal fraternity for restoration of all the deposed judges, including deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, will continue till the achievement of its ultimate goal.

They further expressed the hope that the lawyers movement will further gear up in coming days despite the oath taken by eight SHC judges.

"Chief Justice of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry would firmly stand on his principle even if he is left alone," said Munir A Malik when asked to comment on the efforts of government to administer oath to more deposed judges, especially those sacked from their positions they held in the Lahore and Peshawar High Courts.