Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has said that recent judgements of the Supreme Court have won the confidence of the people, increased their respect for rule of law and belief in the supremacy of the Constitution.
The Chief Justice was addressing the Fifth Roll Signing ceremony of the advocates of Supreme Court in Supreme Court building here on Saturday. He said bar and bench played an important role in upholding the rule of law. Now everyone respects the bar and the bench even more.
The CJ said "there is more responsibility on judiciary now, but it is ready to deliver. It will be discharging its duties to the expectations of the people", he added.
He said "Let the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution be there. Let all the institutions work independently" "Encroachments in one another's area create problems. Everyone should be allowed to do his duties," he emphasised.
He said Supreme Court is receiving approximately 600 applications daily regarding the human rights and public interest cases. It is trying its best to come up to the expectations of the people but dealing with such a large number of cases is a tough job, he added.
He said the high courts and lower courts should also apply the respective laws to decrease the burden on Supreme Court, as people from far-flung areas approach the court for redressal in such cases. Addressing the newly enrolled Advocates the Chief Justice said that they are pursuing a very noble profession, which ensures right of the people.
He, all the newly enrolled advocates, have been in the legal profession since long time and have enough experience in the field. He advised them to use their expertise in the field of legal profession for the benefit of the public and added "Now after becoming the advocates of Supreme Court there is a heavy duty upon your shoulders to serve the public and advance cause of justice, and perform duties with dedication, sincerity and work for supremacy of law."
Earlier Registrar Supreme Court Dr Faqir Hussian introduced the newly enrolled advocates and said that this enrolment ceremony was initiated by the CJP with a view to honour the newly enrolled advocates as they start their practice in the Supreme Court and to instil in them the spirit of service to the litigant parties and public at large.
He said that the high expectations of general public from judiciary could be met by the courts only if prompt and full assistance is furnished to the courts by the members of the bar. Earlier 16 advocates signed the Roll and introduced themselves to the CJP who congratulated them on their enrollment as advocates of the apex court.
The Advocates who signed the Roll are: Arshad Mohsin, Tayehaly, Malik Muntazir Mahdi, C.M.Sarwar, Dilshad Ali Nadeem, Malik Rab Nawaz, Rafique Ahmed Qureshi, Maulvi Sikandar Tariq Ansari, Justice (Retd) Rao Iqbal Ahmed Khan, Hafiz Muhammad Abdul Qayyum, Ahmed Mansoor Chishti, Sajid Mehmood Sheikh, Shahid Hussain Zaheer, Shahid Jamal Khan, Ali Baqar Najafi, Ali Malik and Tariq Saleem Sheikh.