By Abdul Rafey Siddiqi
Karachi: Senior members of the legal fraternity gathered on Saturday for the launch of In Pursuit of Justice, the memoirs of former chief justice of the Federal Shariat Court, Agha Rafiq Ahmed Khan, offering rare insights into more than four decades of judicial history.
The ceremony was attended by prominent jurists and members of the bar, who described the publication as an important contribution to understanding the evolution, challenges and inner workings of Pakistans justice system.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice (retd) Agha Rafiq Ahmed Khan said he decided to write his autobiography on the advice of friends. He explained that the book documents what he personally witnessed during a judicial career stretching back many decades. Among the revelations, he recounted moments when he narrowly escaped imprisonment and the prolonged struggle he endured in seeking his pension, a legal battle that lasted nearly 20 years.
Reflecting on changes over time, the former chief justice remarked that when he was appointed in 1973, his salary was about Rs400, a figure he contrasted with the significantly higher remuneration of judges today.
Zafar Ahmed Rajput, Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, said the book encapsulates decades of experience and provides guidance for younger members of the judiciary.
Originally written in Urdu and later translated into English as In Pursuit of Justice: 44 Years in the Judiciary, the memoir is both a personal narrative and a broader historical reflection. Having risen from a civil judge to head the Federal Shariat Court, the author presents a candid assessment of structural constraints within the system.
Justice (retd) Khan argues that even well-meaning judges often remain limited by entrenched procedures, outdated colonial-era laws, and a wider social environment marked by corruption and political interference. Efforts at reform, he suggests, frequently fail to gain traction.
He also highlights moral challenges within court processes, recalling instances of witnesses giving false testimony despite solemn oaths. Nevertheless, he maintains that the struggle must continue to curb the most visible injustices and to gradually improve the system.
The event concluded with participants acknowledging the memoir as a significant record for students of law, historians and policymakers seeking to understand Pakistans judicial landscape.
