Federal Minister for Law & Justice Farooq H Naek on Friday said that Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan should have to be the next chief justice of the apex court after retirement of the incumbent CJ saying Sardar Raza was the senior most judge after Justice Dogar.
Talking to reporters after chairing a meeting at the Law Ministry, Naek said the office of the CJP should go to the deserving judge. He said the matter of introducing evening courts came under discussion in the meeting and the evening courts would be set up in all the four provinces including federal capital by the end of this month. The minister said new judges will be appointed soon adding that judges' appointments will be made on merit.
Naek said the salaries of the superior courts' judges will be increased. He said the salaries of the judges of subordinate judiciary should also be enhanced. The judges would be appointed purely on merit in all the courts across the country. "We believe in rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and independence of judiciary," he maintained.
Naek said the legal aid offices will also be established in the four provinces which would help the accused defend their cases if they are not in a position to engage an attorney. The minister said the office of public defender would be critical to the fairness of the criminal justice system.
To a question, Naek said the proposed summary for abolishing death sentence had been sent to the interior ministry, which would take necessary steps over it. In addition, the ministry has not yet received summary about abolition of the Hudood penalties.