KARACHI: Chief Justicedesignate of the Sindh High Court Justice Ahmed Ali M. Sheikh on Monday paid tribute to the outgoing Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who has been elevated to the Supreme Court, at a full-court reference held to bid farewell to the outgoing chief justice.

Justice Sajjad Ali Shah had joined the legal profession in 1985 and practised at bar for 20 years before being elevated to the bench of the SHC on Oct 24, 2005.

Justice Shah also remained as honorary lecturer in S.M. Law College Karachi from 1995 till elevation to the bench. He was appointed as standing council for Government of Pakistan in 2002 and thereafter as deputy attorney general for the Government of Pakistan in 2004.

The CJ-designate said that Justice Shah was a very hardworking person who delivered landmark judgements in a short span of time during his tenure as judge of the high court.

`I am very happy on his elevation to the apex court,` said Justice Sheikh.He said that Justice Shah also worked hard to solve the problems faced by the judiciary.

The CJ-designate wished the outgoing chief justice good health and long life and expressed the hope that Justice Shah would keep on helping the provincialjudiciary as judge of the apex court.

Earlier, outgoing CJ Shah said that he was thankful to God for making him chief justice of the high court and judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He said that he had faced a great dealof hardship during his life and legal profession.

Justice Shah said that paying respect to parents and hard work were the keys to success in any field of life.

He advised junior lawyers to work hard and always try to learnfrom their seniors.

The outgoing chief justice said that he appointed judicial officers on merit. He also praised Chief Justice-designate Sheikh and fellow judges for extending their assistance and cooperation during his tenure.