I am reproducing the report that I submitted to the Chief justice of Pakistan on 6th Feb 1990.
“Report on the Delayed Arrival of the Pakistan Delegate at the Inaugural Session of the Seminar on the Independence of the Judiciary held at New Delhi, India on 20th January 1990
On our arrival at the Indra Gandhi Air Terminal, New Delhi, India, on the evening of 19th January 1990, Mr. Imdad Ali, Protocol Officer of our High Commission, and also an official of the Indian Supreme Court received us, the latter presenting bouquet, the former having arranged the transport from the airport to the hotel. The Protocol Officer handed me a small envelope (Annex I) containing the visiting card of the Pakistan High Commissioner with the following writing on it: –
“Welcome to Delhi. I shall call at the Hotel at 9.30 a.m. tomorrow and accompany you to the opening session”.
The arrival of the luggage at the airport was somewhat delayed and we were able to reach the Hotel after 10.00 p.m. There I learnt that Mr. Bhagwati (retired Judge) had been waiting for our arrival and had just left.
Mr. Broody, organizer of the seminar was there, handed over the papers and informed me that one car would be available at the hotel between 9.00 a.m. and 9.15 a.m. for taking the three delegates of Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan to the venue of the Conference. The Programme (Annex II) included an address by the Pakistan delegate also. I informed him as well as Mr. Bhagwati on the telephone that we will come there with the High Commissioner.
Next morning from 9.00 a.m. to 9.15 a.m. we had breakfast in the dining room and thereafter kept on waiting for the High Commissioner in the Lobby. At 9.40 a.m., I received the following recorded message from the counter with time recorded on it as 9.20 a.m. (Annex III):-
“Pakistan High Commissioner will be unable to meet you at 1000 hours as scheduled due to some other important work. Sorry for the inconvenience caused”.
I immediately contacted the High Commission about the alternative transport arrangement. An officer of the High Commission (Mr. Zamir Akram) turned up at the hotel at 10.00 a.m. and took us to the venue. Neither the officer nor his driver knew about the location, not even the Road (Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Road) on which it was situated. We had to inquire on way at four places before we reached the venue at 10.30 a.m., a half hour after the session had started.
The Organizer had not only to reschedule their programme at the last moment due to our absence we were also greatly embarrassed in entering the Conference hall in the midst of the proceedings. All this could have been very easily avoided if the High Commissioner had on his inability to keep up the appointment (for which there may have been very good reasons) taken care to ensure our punctual arrival at the venue by making for once only arrangement for transport and guidance.
(Shafiur Rahman)
Judge
Experiences of a Lifetime 