Supreme Court focuses on restoring public confidence: Chief Justice

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that the superior judiciary has focused on restoring public confidence in its capacity to act as the guardian of human rights and custodian of the citizens' honour, property and safety.
He was delivering a talk on "Judicial System of Pakistan: Its Imperatives and Implications for General Public" to the senior staff officers and field commanders of Pakistan Air Force at Air Headquarters here on Saturday.
He said, " suo motu actions taken by Supreme Court in various issues of bad governance and corruption, have exposed us to the level of institutional failure of the administrative machinery of the country"
The Chief Justice said, " there is an increased awareness that the judicial system in Pakistan has to be more responsive not only to the issues and problems of the litigant public, but also on the issues having bearing on the welfare and well-being of the public."
Justice Iftikhar said that it was a national struggle to revive the institutions and instil public confidence in such institutions. He said, "We hope and pray that the way and directions showed by the apex Court would be followed by other individuals and institutions" Recalling the duties of the individuals and institutions the chief justice remarked that they should apply the authority of law without fear of favour. "Every person and every institution with good performance and commitment can make a visible difference" he emphasised.
He said that the nation will surely have a secure and prosperous future, when all its citizens are up to struggle for a common good and general welfare of all people since hard work and dedicated efforts for improvement is a sure recipe for development, progress, prosperity and happiness. Elaborating the constitutional role of the Supreme Court the chief justice said that since Pakistan's first decade, superior courts, particularly the Supreme Court, have judged the state, ruling on constitutional issues directly affecting national sovereignty, political participation and government organisation.
"Thought the process of political evolution and constitutional rule was not consistent yet the Judiciary of Pakistan played an active role in the political developments, through its rulings and judgements, sought to build bridges, to bring the county back to democratic dispensation and constitutional rule", he added.
Concluding the talk, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force appreciated the judicial activism of the Supreme Court.
Earlier, on his arrival at Air Headquarter, PAF Chief of the Staff Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed received the Chief Justice and introduced him to the Principal Staff Officers of Air Headquarters.