Deposed Judges Khawaja Muhammad Sharif and Iqbal Hameedur Rehman have said freedom of expression can only be achieved when there is no abuse of power. They told the Lahore High Court Bar Association on Wednesday that the power abuse could only be checked when the country had a check-and-balance system.
They said when legislative and executive powers were controlled by the same person or body there would be no liberty. "Fearlessness is the greatest guarantee of the liberty and a fearless and impartial judges are the most vital pillars of the democracy. The basic human rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, which cannot be taken away or curtailed by any law," they said.
They said dictatorship and one man show had destroyed the system and brought the country at the brick of collapse and that the country was in danger because of the government's wrong policies. They said all sections of society should stand with the lawyer community to strengthen the democracy and the judiciary.