ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday said that the judiciary did not want confrontation with anyone.
In his address at a ceremony organised by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, the chief justice said that the rule of law and strong judiciary were essential for the survival of a country. “I am not fighting with anyone. We are fighting for those who are deprived of their rights and do not have the strength to demand those. We are only trying to ensure the basic rights of common man,” he said.
The CJP said that they have laid the foundation of the supremacy of law in the country. He said the judiciary was trying to provide speedy and cheap justice to the people. “I took an oath to uphold the law … and I’m just doing my job,” he added. Referring to the pending National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references, the CJP said that he cannot give a specific timeframe, but hoped that those will be decided by June this year. He said that so far the Supreme Court had heard and decided some 43 references.
The CJP asserted that social evils can be effectively dealt with with the cooperation of lawyers. “I term the lawyers my soldiers, but it doesn’t mean that you indulge into fight with others. Only hard work and struggle leads to success,” he added. Concluding his speech, the chief justice said that every individual was responsible for ensuring that his respect and dignity remained intact. “Let me tell you that three things destroy the decision-making ability of a judge: personal interest, compromise and fear.” He said that a judge should issue verdicts without fear. “Only then, the rule of law can prevail in the country.”
Published in Daily Times, February 23rd 2018.
