Judiciary and Lawyers Must Work Together to Restore Public Trust: Chief Justice BHC
TURBAT:Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, **Justice Rozi Khan Bareech**, has said that **judges and lawyers must work collectively to restore public confidence** in the legal system. He emphasized that the elimination of “black sheep” from within both the judiciary and the legal fraternity is a pressing need of the time.
Addressing a joint dinner hosted by the **Turbat, Gwadar, and Panjgur Bar Associations**, Justice Bareech stated,
> “Lawyers and judges must stay within their respective professional boundaries. The real stakeholders are the people, and the greatest form of patriotism is to serve the public with honesty and integrity.”
The event was attended by Justice Iqbal Ahmed Kasi, Justice Sardar Ahmed Halimi, former Justice Abdul Hameed Baloch, Registrar of BHC Abdul Qayyum Lehri, District & Sessions Judge Turbat Waheed Badini, ATC Judge Nisar Alizai, and a large number of senior lawyers and judicial officers from Turbat, Gwadar, and Panjgur.
Justice Bareech noted that most litigants who approach the courts belong to the **underprivileged segments of society**, often facing significant hardships in the pursuit of justice. To address these issues, he announced that the judiciary is **setting up public facilitation centers**, which will include:
* **Daycare centers**
* **Shelter homes for women**
* **Waiting rooms for litigants**
He stressed that litigants must be treated with dignity and respect, warning that any official who disrespects the public’s dignity will face strict action.
### **Accountability Within the Legal Fraternity**
Justice Bareech revealed that a **self-accountability system for lawyers** is being introduced to expose and remove corrupt elements and mafias who are misusing the profession for personal gain.
> “Some mafias are sending their children into law not to serve justice, but to protect their own black businesses under legal cover. These elements must be removed from the system,” he stated firmly.
He also criticized the **misuse of bar elections**, saying that vote-buying, forgery, and ‘tout-ism’ must end. He urged **bar councils** to take active measures to cleanse their ranks and uphold the sanctity of the legal profession.
### **Free Services for the Poor**
Justice Bareech announced that after the establishment of a **Copy Branch**, **statements and paper books will be provided free of cost to poor litigants**. This step, he said, is intended to eliminate any remaining barriers in access to justice.
> “The respect of the black coat lies in honesty and integrity. The public entrusts lawyers with multi-billion-rupee property cases and even serious criminal matters like murder — violating that trust is a betrayal of the entire system,” he remarked.
In conclusion, the Chief Justice thanked the bar associations for their hospitality and reiterated that **a strong, honest partnership between the judiciary and the legal community is vital for restoring public faith and strengthening the justice system.**
