Bureau Report
KARACHI: Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Monday said that all efforts were being made to ensure rule of law, the supremacy of the constitution, and independence of the judiciary in the country.
He said: “Rule of Law is most important.” He stated this while addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Supreme Court Registry in Karachi on the premises of the Pakistan Secretariat.
The chief justice said that the judiciary does not need more buildings, or such structures, for dispensing justice as it could be done from its existing workplaces but because of the modern requirements, everything had to be placed in proper space and for that purpose-built building were necessary.
He said that rule of law was the purpose behind all these buildings. Justice Ahmed said that the basic requirement was to maintain rule of law, the supremacy of the constitution and the independence of the judiciary that was most vital. He said that judges and lawyers were trying to establish the rule of law, which the country required. He hoped that the new building was going to be one of the most admired buildings in Karachi. He said that the building would have six courtrooms, ample space for bar and other offices.
Earlier, he unveiled the plaque to perform the groundbreaking of the building. Judges and lawyers also attended the ceremony. Moreover, The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday ordered to make Zulfiqarabad Oil Terminal operational and directed the Sindh chief secretary to resolve the issue personally. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the Zulfiqarabad Oil Terminal case in the Supreme Court Karachi Registry, here today.
At the outset of the hearing, the lawyer of the Karachi Municipal Corporation said that the oil terminal has been built but the vehicles are being parked outside.
Justice Sajjad Ali Shah in his remarks said that the shopkeepers want to get shops for free, the shops have been set up but the shopkeepers are not ready to go. On this occasion, the tanker owners present in the courtroom informed the court there is no facility at the terminal. “There is no electricity, no garage, no workshop, how we go there,” they added before the SC bench.
The shopkeepers said that they have been asked to build the shops by themselves. The CJP got furious on the occasion and asked what has happened so far? Is this a joke? It’s been 15 years, the issue is not being resolved yet. Expressing anger at the administrator KMC, the CJP remarked, dishonesty happening everywhere, your people are asking for money from shopkeepers. If you can’t build an oil terminal then there is no justification to remain as an administrator, the CJP remarked.
