Former prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has paid rich tributes to former chief justice of Pakistan Justice Mohammad Haleem, who died in Karachi on Friday last at the age of 81.
In a condolence message to his family, the former prime minister said that she was grieved to learn about the death of a great judge, who had illumined the path for generations to traverse.
She said that the late Justice Mohammad Haleem had a very distinguished career in the judiciary and will be remembered for his honesty, integrity and legal acumen for a long time to come. Justice Haleem became a judge of the Supreme Court in 1977, assumed the office of Chief Justice of Pakistan in March 1981 and continued in this position till retirement in December 1989.
She recalled one of his landmark judgements in the petition against amendments in the Political Parties Act in 1988. Admitting the petition, the late Justice Haleem had held that Article 183 (4) of the Constitution, which empowered the Supreme Court to entertain public interest litigation in its original jurisdiction, was open-ended and wide in scope. She said that it was a remarkable judgement that opened new vistas.
Striking down the impugned provisions of the Political Parties Act he declared that the interpretative approach must receive inspiration from those provisions that saturate and invigorate the entire Constitution so as to achieve democracy, tolerance, equality and social justice.
As a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Haleem acquitted Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on all counts in the fabricated murder case in appeal during General Zia's dictatorship. Directing in his dissenting judgement that the appellant be set at liberty, the judge held an approver's evidence could not sustain conviction.
Benazir Bhutto said that Justice Haleem was a firm believer in the judicial code of ethics and conduct during his tenure and like a true and great judge preferred to fade away in retirement after laying down judicial robes.
Judges like Justice Haleem are truly a national asset, she said. Bhutto also prayed for a high place in Heaven for Justice Haleem and patience to the members of the bereaved family to bear the great loss with fortitude.