The Chief Justice, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has said that 61st Independence Day has dawned a new era of Independence of Judiciary, rule of law and supremacy of the constitution. He was addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of the 2nd phase of the Supreme Court Building which was attended by Judges of the Supreme Court.
Attorney General, Deputy Attorney Generals for Pakistan, and senior members of the bar here on Tuesday afternoon. He said as the final arbiter of the law and constitution, "it is our responsibility to restore and maintain the balance between the three pillars of the state; to ensure that the principles upon which the country was based and which are enshrined in the constitution are strengthened; to build a strong culture of respect of law and constitutionality and to uphold legitimate rights of the people.
He said in carrying out this uphill task, "we require the cooperation of the bar and support and confidence of the people of Pakistan," "The recent struggle of the legal fraternity duly participated by the civil society, reaffirms our commitment to the constitution of Pakistan," he added.
He said It has served to give us strength, but also brought the realisation to all that all actions made in the higher echelon of power will be subject to the supreme law of the land. CJP said people have expectations of the Judiciary which has to strive to meet such expectations and deliver. "As the Chief Justice of Pakistan, it shall be my constant endeavour to serve the nation" he added.
He said we were fortunate to have Qauid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah as our leader whose belief in law and constitutionality was undeterred. He had power of the people behind him, yet chose to exercise that power through constitutional means.
CJP said at all important junctures, we must resolve to follow the path that Jinnah had shown to us, and learn to live as a proud nation upholding the principles of law and constitutionality and sever our ties with such anachronisms that do not befit a free and democratic nation"
CJP quoted the Quaid-e-Azam's speech to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan as his commitment to the nation: "I shall always be guided by the principles of justice and fair play without any prejudice or ill will or in other words partiality and favouritism. My guiding principle shall be justice and complete impartiality and I am sure with your support and cooperation. I can look forward to Pakistan becoming one of the greatest nations of the world".
The CJP said that as a guardian of the constitution of Pakistan, the Supreme Court is entrusted to protect, preserve and defend the sacred document and maintain rule of law and dispense justice. In his vote of thanks, Justice Javed Iqbal said that the quick decision to start construction of phase II of the building would not have been possible without firm resolve of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan, Justice Faquir Mohammad Khokhar, Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Javed Buttar and Justice Nasirul Mulk also attended the ceremony Later CJP laid the foundation stone of the building. Chairman CDA briefed the audience about the details of the project to be completed in two years at a cost of Rs 270 million.
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