The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, has said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the parliament will be completing its full term. It is a sign of supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law in country.
He was addressing the 60-member delegation of Youth Parliament Pakistan which visited the Supreme Court as a part of their study schedule, organised by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat).
The delegation members had an interactive dialogue with the Chief Justice on "strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in Pakistan".
The Chief Justice said it is a healthy sign that the parliament is functioning and democratic institutions are strengthening in Pakistan. "The completion of term by the parliament is a healthy sign, and I hope that the democratic institution of our country will continue to progress and prosper," he added.
Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said it is a democratic tradition that all the institutions/organs of the state, including judiciary, work independently within parameters provided by the law and the Constitution. "Judiciary has its own independent and impartial role," he added.
He appreciated the objective and purpose of the youth parliament and said that it is encouraging to involve the youth in such sessions to educate them and develop their personalities with a view to grooming them for the upcoming challenges of life.
Later, the members of the delegation posed various questions to the CJP. Answering a query on the public interest litigation, the Chief Justice said that it is by no mean "judicial activism" but "non-traditional" power of the Supreme Court to address all the cases of fundamental rights involving public.
To a query about the judges of lower courts, he said all the judges should be upright and honest and sincere to their profession, who should pay more attention towards quick disposal of cases, adding they should be available in the courts and observe the court timings.
Regarding Access to Justice Development Fund, the Chief Justice said that objectivity is must for the projects and their implementation should be monitored properly. "A clear and comprehensive policy should be formulated for spending the Access to Justice Fund", he added. Senator S.M. Zafar, MNA Ms Donia Aziz, and Pildat Executive Director Ahmad Bilal Mehboob attended the meeting.
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