Judges must justify fat salaries, Chief Justice tells key meeting

Nisar says constitution is supreme law of any country, urges judges to join his campaign

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar on Saturday said that the Constitution was the supreme document of any country.

Parliament has the authority to make laws and our job is to uphold the sanctity of the law, the chief justice said, while presiding over a meeting of judges belonging to special tribunals and administrative courts here at the National Judicial Policymaking Tribunal.

The meeting was held to review the performance of the judiciary in the country.

He said that judiciary was the most important pillar of the state. “If this pillar does not perform, then the state will have to face imbalances,” he added.

The chief urged judges to join his campaign of justice. “I bow my head to you to become part of my campaign and start delivering justice. We have to enforce the fundamental rights of the people. This is our responsibility,” he urged.

He stressed that integrity, honesty, uprightness were the virtues of a good judge and that the judges should not worry about getting more benefits. “We are one of highest paid government servants so let us deliver,” he added.

Hurdles

The CJP said hurdles being faced by the lawyers were not insurmountable.

“I have seen many passionate judges, who worked in unfavourable conditions. The court proceedings should be considered as work. The Chief Justice of Canada resigned and said this work was his passion but now it seems like a job. I don’t want a job,” said the CJP.

He stressed that the judges have to work hard for country’s progress and improvement.

Justice Nisar said that a judge of the High Court draws a monthly salary of Rs900,000 (Dh29,841) and Rs40,000 daily while the salary of a supreme court judge is even higher.

He advised the judges to work enough to justify their earnings.

Commenting on the nature of the job, he informed accountability and antiterrorism court (ATC) judges that there will be people who threaten the system and might claim that they will make your children’s lives difficult, but you have to bring these people to accountability.