I will continue to bow before the judges: Zardari

[Naveed Yaseen]

Zardari welcomes judges’ restoration

Saturday, March 21, 2009
Says it is time to forget past; wishes Dogar good luck; ‘nations progress through evolution, continuity’

By Asim Yasin

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday said that he would always bow his head before their lordships, the judges, irrespective of whether he was the president or an ordinary citizen.

“Today, as I stand here as the President of Pakistan I once again bow before the majesty of your lordships. I will continue to bow before the lordships,” he said while addressing the farewell dinner in the honour of the retiring Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar here on Friday night at the Presidency.

The president said it had been his vision that the institutions should grow and gain strength through evolution and continuity. “Our vision may not have been shared by all, some were even critical, but this is the price leaders have to pay,” he added.

The president said early this week the remaining deposed judges of the superior courts were also restored. “Their restoration should be seen as another step in the evolutionary process of strengthening the institutions.”

He said, “We welcome all the restored judges to their pre-November 3, 2007 positions. It is time to look forward and build on what has been achieved. It is time to forget the past and to move on.”

The president said Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar had laid down his judicial robes at the end of a long and eventful career in the judiciary spanning over many long years and he wished Chief Justice Dogar good luck in his future life. “My lord, you have seen me appearing and bowing before you in the courts.”

Speaking on the occasion, the outgoing chief justice said that whatever he did as a judge he did keeping in view the best interests of justice and the country. He said that retirement was a fact of life and every one had to retire some day.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek, Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, federal ministers, Supreme Court judges, services’ chiefs, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, parliamentarians and senior government officials attended the dinner. However, none of the restored judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, attended the dinner despite invitation.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=21059