Had to pay heavy price for verdicts, criticized by political parties: PHC CJ

Peshawar: Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court Muhammad Ibrahim Khan has said that the decision of the court announced in the law has been criticized by political parties and they have to pay a heavy price for this decision.
The Chief Justice said this in his speech at a public hearing in his honour. He reflected on his time on the court, noting the challenges and triumphs he faced.
JJ Khan said that if anyone considers his decision illegal, he will be held responsible on the Day of Judgement. In his 31 years in office, he said, he has delivered an impressive 15,000 judgments, with only 509 being overturned in the Supreme Court and 279 being upheld by the high court.
“We take decisions according to law, but we belong to political parties,” Chief Justice Khan said, adding that decisions taken according to law were criticized by political parties.
“I had to pay a heavy price for that decision,” he said. He also reminded that he is the 10th senior judge of the apex court after the Army Public School inquiry was handed over.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim paid tribute to Chief Justice Khan and praised his respected colleague for his adherence to the law and the Constitution during his 31 years of service. Realizing the difficult nature of our Chief Justice’s role, Judge Ibrahim appreciates CJ Khan’s efforts to protect the independence of the judiciary and prevent threats to its autonomy.
Judge Ibrahim said, “The job of the Chief Justice is a difficult job which he has done well. JJ has always supported the law and the Constitution.”
He further said that Chief Justice Khan had never allowed the independence of the judiciary to be compromised and for this he would remember the services of the Peshawar High Court.
High Court Judge, Advocate General, Peshawar District and Sessions Judge and others attended the plenary session.
Chief Justice Ibrahim will resign on April 14. He was appointed as a permanent judge of the Peshawar High Court in June 2018 and appointed as the chief justice in August 2023.