PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan on Saturday said the interference of the high court had helped trace around 3,000 missing persons in two years and of them, 1,270 were set free, while the rest were sent to the notified internment centres.

Addressing a farewell reception hosted by the PHC Bar Association, the CJ, who was recently recommended by the Judicial Commission for elevation to the Supreme Court, said safeguarding the rights of the people was the prime responsibility of the judiciary and none of the institutions was above the law.

He said the provision of speedy and cheap justice was not possible without cooperation between the bar and the bench.

Hailing from southern Bannu district, Justice Dost Mohammad said the time spent by him in Peshawar as a judge and as chief justice was the most memorable period of his life which he could not forget.

He said he had always endeavoured for the supremacy of the law and the Constitution as his constitutional responsibility.

The CJ said while dealing with issue of missing persons, he’d faced problems from certain quarters but declined to compromise the principle to uphold the rule of law.

He said he had left no stone unturned for recovery of missing persons, which helped traced around 3,000 of them.

Justice Dost Mohammad said for the capacity building of judges and lawyers, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy was set up which had so far trained around 1000 judges and around 300 lawyers.

He said he was hopeful that in near future, the academy would attain the status of a law university to offer LLM and PhD degrees.

The CJ said a new centralised air-conditioning plant would be installed in the high court following which for the first time, litigant public would also avail that facility in summer.

He also talked about the construction of several judicial complexes, which are either completed or are under construction in different districts and tehsils of the province.

The CJ pointed out that in large number of cases of public interest, the PHC had taken suo moto notices, especially in issues related to environment, health, education and human rights.

Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk praised the chief justice saying he was an asset to the judiciary.

He said that his courageous and bold decisions proved that he was a man of strong nerves.

Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk said he would continue his mission but added that for that purpose, he would need cooperation of the bar.

PHCBA President Ishtiaq Ibrahim hailed the stint of Justice Dost Mohammad as CJ saying during his tenure, he had taken several revolutionary and innovative steps for which he would be remembered for a long time.

The event was also meant to welcome the senior puisne judge, Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk, who has been recommended by the Judicial Commission for the post of the PHC CJ. Earlier when the judges reached the barroom, lawyers showered them with rose petals.