ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Sunday said the government completed its five-year constitutional term because of the independent judiciary, which plays a pivotal role in eradication of oppression and injustice.
Addressing the concluding session of the three-day International Judicial Conference, he proclaimed that in recent years, the judiciary had successfully emerged as the third pillar of State, saviour and a protector of constitutional supremacy and fundamental rights. Pakistani judicial system the strongest backer of democracy, enjoying full confidence of legal fraternity, other institutions and the public at large, he added.Introducing the basic theme of Conference as. “No virtue is greater than justice”, he stressed that Justice was a master virtue, which brought harmony and peace to individuals as well as nations.
He said that an independent judiciary played a pivotal role in eradicating tyranny & oppression and establishing a just and fair social order in society, essential for growth, development and prosperity.“ It guides us to live a happy and contented life based on principles of equality and fairness. Undoubtedly, judiciary has a primary role in promoting rule of law and all authorities and institutions have to render auxiliary support and cooperation in the administration of justice and execution of the judicial process”, he deliberated.
He also homed-in the fact that Executive and Legislature shared equal responsibility to achieve the object of independence of judiciary.“If such an environment is created where all three organs perform their functions while remaining within their prescribed spheres, it would provide a stable and predictable environment, facilitating the judiciary to enforce the fundamental rights of the citizens, guaranteed under the Constitution”, he said.
“A civilized society understands and values the importance of independence of judiciary; however, it is rather an ongoing effort in which different targets are to be set and achieved, different stages are to be crossed and different levels are to be attained, till we achieve the ultimate objective of independence and impartiality of judiciary”, he stated.He said that adherence to the constitutional norms of equality before law and equal protection of law by the Apex Court in all its verdicts has curtailed the arbitrary actions and excesses of the State institutions and private individuals; while also curbing the social evils of corruption, kidnapping, abduction, forced disappearances, target killings, terrorism and violation of human rights to a great extent.
“However, complete solution to these social evils is impossible without active participation, coordination of all stakeholders, discharging their constitutional duties of maintaining peace, establishing rule of law”, he reasoned: stressing that these social evils need to be uprooted through a collaborative and conjunctive effort before they completely erode the social fabric.
Expressing that Judiciary in Pakistan was fully cognizant of the ever-rising hopes of people in the judicial institution, he assured that Judiciary was working to uphold the rule of law.“We strongly believe that the judiciary must not take on the colour of whatever may be popular at the moment rather we are guardian of rights and we have to tell people things they often do not like to hear,” he reasoned.He expressed the hope that with increased support of stakeholders and confidence of people, the independence of judiciary would be further strengthened. – DailyTimes
