ISLAMABAD, April 30 Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Thursday said the elevation of late Justice Sabhiuddin Ahmed to the Supreme Court was not in deviation of his principles but vindication of the position he took from day one and stood by it till the last moment of his life.

“Justice Sabhi was a man of principles who declined the offer to continue as chief justice of the Sindh High Court on November 3, 2007 (when emergency was proclaimed by former President Pervez Musharraf) on the call of his conscience,” the chief justice observed while speaking at a Court Reference held in memory of late Justice Sabhiuddin here at the Supreme Court.

The reference was organised to pay tributes to the meritorious services the late justice rendered in dispensation of justice during his tenure as judge of the apex court.

The chief justice said Justice Sabhi would always strive for quick dispensation of justice in line with the maxim “justice delayed is justice denied,” but would balance it with other maxim “Justice hurried is justice buried.”

Justice Ahmed was elevated to the Supreme Court on September 18 last year along with Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan, Justice Nasirul Mulk and Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani. Their oath was administered by former Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.

Speaking on the occasion Attorney General Sardar Mohammad Latif Khan Khosa described the personality of Justice Sabhi as a gentleman par excellence, a towering personality, outstanding member of the judiciary, soft spoken, kind hearted, public spirited, friend of all and foe of none.

Our beloved motherland is bleeding, the attorney general deplored, emphasizing the need to strengthen democracy and enforce the rule of law. “We are indeed passing through a defining moment of history. It is now up to constitutional guarantors particularly the superior judiciary of this country to strengthen institutions, foster relations between the bar and the bench for the effective administration of justice,” the AG said.

“The people of Pakistan have high expectations and are asking for the enforcement of their fundamental rights guaranteed by law and constitution. Such is only possible if we symbolize the cool gentlemanly par excellence conduct of Justice Sabhi,” he said.

Vice Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council Haji Syed Rehman said Justice Sabhi as SHC chief justice had made relentless efforts and endeavours for lifting unlawful restrictions and barricades on the city courts and the SHC, which were laid to prevent the peaceful gatherings of lawyers in and around bar premises and for avoiding the carnage which took place on May 12, 2007 at Karachi that caused unprecedented loss of precious human lives of not less than 50 peaceful citizens and injuries to hundreds at the hands of organized law breakers.

President Sindh High Court Bar Association Rasheed A Razvi recalled that Justice Sabhi had agonized the most difficult decision of his life whether or not to take oath under the Oath of Office (Judges) Order 2000.

“I recall that fateful morning on January 26, 2000 when he along with Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali came in my chamber as both were not inclined to take oath. It was a joint request made by me, Muneer A Malik and Mushtaq A Memon persuading both the judges to remain at the judiciary as they had to perform some other important work,” he said.

While his heart said no, he was reluctantly persuaded by the argument that he must remain in judiciary as on the balance there was more virtue then vice even though more opprobrium than cheer, Mr Razvi said adding we were proud that this request to him and Justice Jamali stands vindicated at the bar of history.

It is often said that judges speak through judgments but late Justice Sabhi spoke not only through his judgments but through his acts and deeds. “His lordship was a judge, jurists, a friend, a fighter for the rule of law and independence of judiciary,” he said.

Later the chief justice addressing the staff of the Supreme Court announced setting up of a special cell headed by Justice Javed Iqbal with a task to monitor the complaints regarding corruption of judiciary and hand down severe punishments to those found involved in such practices if credible and tangible proof was produced.

The entire nation is watching and the people have pinned their hopes on the judiciary after the successful movement launched for the independence of the judiciary. “Unfortunately the image of the judiciary right from the civil courts to the superior level is not so good,” the chief justice observed.

“There would be zero tolerance for corruption as we have to root out this menace from our institutions,” he said.

He said the jurisdiction of the cell would be extended further to the civil court level adding corrupt people will have no scope in the judiciary from now on.

The chief justice also heard the complaints of the staff and issue orders redressal of their grievances.