Farooq H Naik advocates for ‘Constitutional Court’

ISLAMABAD: Speaking to the media outside Islamabad High Court (IHC), Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Farooq H Naik shared opinions in favor of the need for the establishment of a constitutional court to address the backlog of cases in the Supreme Court.

Speaking on the role of the Bar Council, Naik clarified that he had abstained from participating in the Council’s proceedings the previous day. He affirmed that while the convention is the right of lawyers, the Pakistan Bar Council believes a dedicated constitutional court should be formed to deal with legal matters more efficiently.

Govt announces three-day holiday in Islamabad and Rawalpindi

Naik stressed that the creation of such a court would pose no harm to the country. In fact, it would significantly reduce the burden of both criminal and civil cases currently pending in the Supreme Court. “The constitutional court will streamline the judiciary’s workload, enabling quicker justice,” he said.

Naik also disclosed that the Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had shared a draft of the proposed constitutional amendment regarding the formation of the court. The Pakistan Bar Council reviewed the draft and forwarded its recommendations to the minister. “We have done our part by providing suggestions; now, it is up to Parliament to decide whether or not to include them,” Naik explained.

Highlighting the origins of the idea, Naik pointed out that the formation of a constitutional court had been part of the Charter of Democracy, an agreement between former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and the late Benazir Bhutto. He called for the implementation of this long-standing proposal.

Azam Swati sent on three-day physical remand

In response to questions about the appointment of the new Chief Justice, Naik noted that the responsibility lies with the Ministry of Law. “Issuing the notification of the new Chief Justice is the government’s job,” he said. Naik expressed confidence that the notification would be issued before the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Qazi Faez Isa.