President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Malik Muhammad Qayyum has said that people did not respect the decisions of the judiciary, as it has lost its image in the eyes of public.
While addressing 'Meet the Press' programme of Lahore Press Club on Monday, Qayyum said that judiciary must take steps for restoring its dignity by getting implemented its decisions in letter and spirit. He added that Supreme Court had imposed ban on serving meal in marriage functions, but unfortunately the decision of the apex court is not being implemented. He said that Supreme Court had also allowed Shahbaz Sharif to come to Pakistan but government had not allowed him. 'If the judiciary and the press performed its due roles independently, neither any dictator could topple a democratic government nor could prolong his tenure', he said.
He said that at present judiciary is not giving decisions against the present regime. He said that the government is also required to perform its due role for improving the image of the judiciary. He was of the view that judges should be provided lifetime facilities so that they could perform their duties independently.
Expressing his grave concern over huge backlog of cases in the courts, he said that judicial institutions are not giving due time to their work. He said that courts should dispose off pending cases in accordance with the law. He said that SCBA will perform its due role, adding that 1973 constitution has lost its originality because new amendments have tarnished its original shape.
He said that he has constituted a committee comprising senior lawyers to give suggestions on the Constitution of Pakistan. He said that SCBA would also hold seminars to provide a better platform to the political leaders to express their views.