Had to pay heavy price for verdicts, criticized by political parties: PHC CJ

PESHAWAR, (NNI): Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan has said that the court's judgements announced according to the law were criticized by political parties and that he had to pay a heavy price for these decisions.

The chief justice delivered these remarks during his address to a poignant full court reference ceremony in his honour. He reflected on his tenure, highlighting the challenges and triumphs encountered during his judicial service.

CJ Khan said if anyone believed that if anyone thought his decisions were not in accordance with the law, then he would present himself for accountability on the Day of Judgment. He disclosed that he had rendered an impressive 15,000 decisions during his 31year tenure, with only 509 decisions being challenged in the Supreme Court and 279 being upheld by the superior court.

"We took decisions according to the law, but we were attributed to a political party," Chief Justice Khan remarked, adding that their judgements rendered according to the law were criticized by political parties.

"I had to pay a heavy price for these decisions," he disclosed. He also recalled that he was the 10th senior judge of the high court when he was handed over the Army Public School inquiry.

Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, in his tribute to Chief Justice Khan, hailed his esteemed colleague's unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the Constitution in his 31-year tenure. Recognizing the arduous nature of the chief justice's role, Justice Ibrahim lauded CJ Khan's efforts in safeguarding the independence of the judiciary and preventing any encroachment upon its autonomy.

"The job of a chief justice is a difficult one, which he performed well. The CJ always supported the rule of law and the Constitution," Justice Ibrahim added.

He further said that Chief Justice Khan never allowed any damage to the independence of judiciary, for which the Peshawar High Court will always remember his services.

The full court reference was attended by judges of the high court, the advocate general, the Peshawar district and sessions judge and others.

Chief Justice Ibrahim is retiring from office on April 14. He was inducted as a permanent judge of the Peshawar High Court in June 2018, and appointed the chief justice of the court in August 2023.