Supreme Court strength comes down to 12 as another judge retires

Another judge of the Supreme Court laid down his robes of office, further reducing the already depleted strength of nation's highest judicial forum.
Retiring here on Friday, after nearly three years and three months tenure on the Bench, was Justice Tanvir Ahmed Khan.
With his retirement the strength of the Court has come down from 17 to 12 judges who held a full court reference to bid farewell to their retiring colleague. But, at the same time, they took the opportunity to speak of the mounting backlog of cases which needs "concerted efforts at all levels" to reduce it.
Turning to the role of their departing colleague, Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui was joined by Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan and leaders of the bar association and council to compliment him for his "enormous contribution" in the legal field.
They spoke of his judgements interpreting the law and constitution and held that these have left an indelible mark on the "annals of judiciary".
The Chief Justice also spoke of "differences" that had cropped up between the Bench and the Bar and called for sincere efforts to "bring efficiency in the judicial system". He said: "We have the potential to improve things, and we must make use of it lest it is too late."
In the evening, Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui gave a dinner for the five retiring judges which was attended by some judges of Federal Shariah Court, High Courts and some prominent members of the Bar.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Tariq Mahmood and Vice President of Pakistan Bar Council Qazi M Anwer criticised the role of judiciary in the national politics for its various judgements validating the coups d'etat and several other actions.
Both speeches were strongly worded and one of the speakers asked for trial of a former Chief Justice.
They also alleged that the judiciary had spelled out the rule of seniority for promotions and appointments but had failed to adhere to it.
Even the Supreme Judicial Council, Tariq Mahmood said, had been converted into a 'club'.
Both representatives of legal profession also criticised the appointment of Judges to executive positions, "in absolute disregard" of Supreme Court's own judgement and hence made the "two wheels of the legal chariot unbalanced".