KARACHI: The outgoing acting Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, Irfan Saadat Khan, has said that he disposed of around 15,000 cases during his 14-year tenure at the SHC.

He further stated that over 400 judgments authored by him were upheld by the apex court and almost a same number of orders handed down by him were reported in the All Pakistan Legal Decisions.

Justice Khan was speaking to participants in a full-court reference held to bid him farewell at the SHC on Wednesday on the eve of his elevation to the Supreme Court.

The senior puisne judge of SHC, Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, the federal and provincial law officers and the representatives of lawyers paid tribute to Justice Khan.

Generally, full court references are held on the eve of the elevation or retirement of the judges of SHC.

Justice Irfan Saadat disposed of 15,000 cases during his 14-year tenure at SHC

Sources in the SHC said that the last full court reference was held in January 2021 on the eve of retirement of Justice Abdul Rasool Memon.

Since then two judges of the SHC have been elevated to the apex court and around five judges, including former chief justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh, who hung up his robes on Oct 2, have been retired, but no full court reference was held, they added.

Speaking on the occasion, the outgoing acting CJ further said that he had served in the SHC since September 2009 and rendered judgements in good faith and with all due honesty and also extended an apology in case there was any error in his judgments.

He lauded the lawyers’ movement for independence of judiciary and said that he was also sent packing, but restored due to efforts of the legal fraternity.

Referring to Justice Abbasi, who is likely to be the next chief justice of SHC and Justice Nadeem Akhtar, senior most judge of SHC after Justice Abbasi, Justice Khan said that after his elevation, the SHC would get the best chief justice and senior puisne judge.

Both of them will listen to the complaints of bar associations, outgoing acting CJ said and advised the representatives of lawyers to discuss their problems with them.

Justice Abbasi said that initially, he along with Justice Khan and nine other judges were elevated to the SHC in September 2009 and since then both of them were working together.

He stated that there was a judicial crisis at the time of their elevation and there was a huge workload, but they worked hard and well supported by the seniors judges.

Justice Abbasi also praised the lawyers’ movement, but advised the members of the legal fraternity to extend their cooperation for smooth functioning of judicial system as it was the responsibility of a lawyer to assist the court properly.

The lawyers would have no grievance against judges if they come prepared and inform the courts about facts since the court time was precious for litigants, he added.

The senior puisne judge said that he knew Justice Khan since 1986-87 and he was a good and dedicated lawyer and after his elevation to bench, he was a very competent and honest judge and decided around 15,000 cases.

Advocate General of Sindh Hasan Akbar, Prosecutor General of Sindh Dr Faiz Shah, senior counsel and member Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) Akhtar Hussain, Additional Attorney General Sadaqat Ali and representatives of the Sindh Bar Council, Sindh High Court Bar Association, Karachi Bar Association and Malir Bar Association also spoke on the occasion.

Justice Khan, who along with Justice Abbasi had been ignored thrice in the past, was eventually considered and unanimously recommended by the JCP for his elevation to the Supreme Court on Oct 20.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2023