Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohamamd Chaudhry said on Sunday that bar plays significant role in effective functioning of system of administration of justice.
"Vigilant and active bar ensures that no undue delay is caused. It further ensures that quality judgments are made and also guarantees that independence of judiciary is respected. For this purpose the bench and bar has to work in unison", he said.
This was stated by Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry while addressing a reception hosted in his honour by Hyderabad District Bar and High Court Bar at Civil Court Building here.
More than 500 lawyers attended the reception. Among them were president and secretary-generals of High Court Bar and District Bar, Kazi Sattar, Allah Bachayo Soomro, Aziz Shaikh and Noorul Haq Qureshi.
He said strong and committed bar is must for enforcing fundamental rights and letting citizens have access to justice. He said judiciary, its sanctity, independence, impartiality and ability to justice is our common goal.
"You and I have to strive to maintain and enhance prestige and authority of this institution, he said and added access to justice is aim and ardent desire of people governed under any civilised society.
He said a civilised society is one that is ruled by constitution having representative system of governance.
"Full and complete obedience to constitution by all ensures rule of law. Deviation from constitution leads to anarchy and bad governance. It encourages arbitrariness in actions and decisions.
The constitution therefore is admittedly considered as supreme law of land. He said men and women are not angles as they are human with all their faults and shortcomings. The evil nature of disruptive tendencies therefore have to be checked and it has to be checked through law.
He said constitution of Pakistan provides a system of separation of powers. "It empowers 3 key institution of government to perform their functions but also puts checks on limitation on exercise of their powers so that they remain within their limits. The constitution assigns judiciary the role of watchdog", Iftikhar said.
He said Supreme Court is mandated as guardian of constitution to protect and defend the constitution. "Supreme Court having jurisdiction to enforce fundamental rights has played a key role in providing remedy and relief to people. Law is not for benefit of few.
Its benefits must reach to all particularly to those who are underprivileged and downtrodden", he said.
He said during his tenure as CJP, he opened cell of human rights and took suo motu action against violations of human rights. When he took over in June 2005 there were 26,000 cases and at present only 10,000 cases remain in pending.
He also referred to a woman Sodhi who had remained in Hyderabad jail for 5 years for marrying on her own will. He said on his orders she was called to DSJ and was released.
There was case also from Hyderabad of a 5 year-old-boy who was handcuffed. He was also released on his orders overnight.
He also mentioned bonded labour in Sindh and said he took suo motu action against kidnapping of family of peasant Munoo Bheel. He hoped that his family would be traced out soon.
Meanwhile, in Moro, Non-functional Chief Justice Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, has called upon the lawyers and judges to struggle for restoration of the supremacy of law and constitution.
In his brief address at a reception hosted this noon by Moro Bar Association here, Justice Chaudhry said that he has received unprecedented love and affection by the lawyers and other people that has raised his morale. Earlier, Munir A. Malik, President, Supreme Court Bar Association, Ali Ahmed Kurd and Sukkur Bar chief Imdad Ali Awan spoke.
Justice Chaudhry, who was on his way from Sukkur to Hyderabad, was received by MNA Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Sessions Judge Naushehro Feroze Abdul Rasheed Soomro, Additional Sessions Judge Munir Ahmed Shaikh, enior Civil Judge Ghulam Mustafa Leghari and others. The local lawyers presented the CJP traditional gifts of Ajrak and Sindhi caps. The lawyers also raised slogans demanding reinstatement of CJP.
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