Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has said that the establishment of the Islamabad High Court is indeed a commendable step in aid of the right of access to justice. He said that it was unfortunate that initially this court was not established in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, rather to provide some credibility to unconstitutional actions of a dictator.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of new IHC building here on Tuesday, the Chief Justice said that the establishment of IHC on its own premises was needed to provide congenial working environment for judges, lawyers and litigant parties and it was a significant milestone in advancements for the improvement in the system of administration of justice.
He said that the improvement in the justice sector could not be achieved through one time struggle. It was rather a continuous process as the legal and judicial institutions played a pivotal role in ensuring supremacy of Constitution, rule of law and protection of rights of the citizens. It was long standing demand of the lawyers' community as well as litigant public that all the courts must be situated at one place or at least close to each other, he added.
He said that the construction of new building of IHC in Sector G-5, very close to the Supreme Court and Federal Shariat Court, would save the lawyers as well as litigants from the agony of travelling long distances to reach from one court to another. The existence of Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and High Court in close proximity, besides convenience, is also necessary for security reasons, he added. He said that through 18th Amendment, certain amendments were made in Article 175 and the provision for establishing the High Court for the Islamabad Capital Territory was added.
"Let me say that it is not an ordinary building which we are going to shape rather the bricks in its structure would shape the future. I am sure that the petitions and appeals would be heard and the historic judgements delivered in this building which will be shaping the contours of our judicial independence by adhering to the constitutionalism and rule of law," he added.
He said that justice maintains the balance in the society and injustice anywhere is regarded as a threat to justice everywhere and it also stands high and mighty in the moral hierarchy. He said, "When it is command of Allah Almighty to do justice then the place where this sacred duty is to be performed cannot be ignored and this also becomes sacred and important because of being used for the sacred purpose of doing justice."
He said that it was also responsibility of the state, under the command of the Constitution, to ensure the inexpensive and expeditious justice, and the role of High Courts in the enforcement and protection of the fundamental rights of the citizens was very crucial.
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