Islamabad: The Supreme Court’s senior-most judge and incoming Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed has rolled out an ambitious plan of overhauling the lower courts and promised to bring positive change in the conditions of the judges and the courtrooms of the lower judiciary.

While addressing an annual conference of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA), Justice Gulzar promised to provide all the facilities necessary for speedy delegation of justice and an enabling environment there.

He said it would be his utmost desire to see the district courts of Karachi completely refurbished and equipped with necessary facilities and judges of the district judiciary are given all the resources and provisions needed for optimal and smooth functioning.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed will replace the incumbent Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa who is retiring on December 20. Justice Gulzar will assume charge on December 21. Ministry for Law & Justice has already notified him as the next chief justice of Pakistan.

He said the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) was one of the most important bars of the province as well as Pakistan.

The bar, he said ever since the creation of Pakistan has played a dynamic and pivotal role in giving a clear guideline to the stakeholders regarding legislation, policymaking and maintain rule of law. In movement for restoration and Independence of judiciary too the Karachi Bar played dynamic role.

KBA has been led by great legal luminaries who acquired eminence in the legal profession and some of them adorned the bench of high court also, said Justice Gulzar.

Justice Gulzar recounted his days of practicing in the District Courts of Karachi where he learnt a great deal from his senior advocates and colleagues.

My foundation as the active practitioner of law was laid at the Karachi Bar from where I rose as the senior most judge of the Supreme Court.

The senior justice said he cannot profess to have always been correct and thorough in the understanding and execution of justice as the law is an unfathomable ocean and nobody can proclaim with certainty to know it all.

Justice Gulzar said one good lawyer however, can proclaim to have a reasonably good understanding of application of law when he has devoted many precious years of the life in research and contemplation of law and justice.

He advised the young lawyers to work hard and develop the habit of consistent studying.

Justice Gulzar will be the 27th Chief Justice of Pakistan and his tenure will end on February 1, 2022.

The new chief justice was born in Karachi in 1957 and pursued his career in Law. After becoming a lawyer, Justice Gulzar started practicing in the Sindh High Court in 1986.

In 1988, he was elevated to the Supreme Court as an advocate. Later, he was sworn in as the Sindh High Court judge in 1992. He has been serving as the apex court judge since November 16, 2011.