Writing the job description (JD) of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) was a daunting task. As Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), I personally supervised the implementation of ISO 9000 Quality Management System (QMS) in the foundation.

As PSF had a trained team to build QMS, free services were offered to important government departments. In the year 2005, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) accepted the offer and work started on ISO 9000 QMS certification of the highest court of the land.

The dismissal of the CJP Iftikhar Chaudhary followed by the Lawyer’s Movement in the year 2007 caused major disruption of the programme. It was indeed an interesting experience. As a child growing up on the Mall Road very close to the Lahore High Court (LHC), I spent a lot of time roaming around in the courtrooms to observe judges in black robes and white wigs.

The Supreme Court was also located here after the capital was shifted from Karachi. Had the opportunity of meeting prominent legal minds like A.R. Corneulis, S.A. Rehman, Hamood-ur-Rehman, Sardar Iqbal, Mahmood Ali Kasuri, M. Anwar and the brilliant Manzur Qadir to name a few.

The CJP is the Chief Legal Manager of the country. While sitting on the bench he presides over the court, during his time in office he is required to manage the entire legal system of the country. From a management standpoint, it is perhaps the most difficult position.

It is a transition from........

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