Deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that establishment of an independent judiciary has become more imperative at this critical juncture for protecting geographical and ideological fronts of the country.
Addressing the lawyers' convention here in the wee hours this morning he added that independent judiciary was necessary for ensuring supremacy of law and establishing good governance in the country. If judiciary works under pressure then geographical and ideological boundaries would be in jeopardy while investors remained reluctant to invest in the country as well as law and order deteriorates as a result of which the people would not trust the courts, he was of the opinion.
Mr Iftikhar Chaudhry further said that it was very unfortunate that judiciary was not independent during past 60 years and the nation had faced four martial laws resultantly the sad incident of separation of East Pakistan took place while the country also faced series of political upheavals.
The deposed Chief Justice on this occasion stressed upon the lawyer community that they should forge unity among the ranks and further accelerate their struggle for the independence of judiciary in the country. On this occasion he paid rich tributes to great philosopher, thinker and poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal and said that it is our national and moral duty that we should collectively work for converting the country into a real Islamic state as Allama Iqbal visualised.
In his telephonic address Pakistan Supreme Court Bar President Ali Ahmad Kurd also urged upon the lawyer community to forge unity for ensuring supremacy of constitution and rule of law in the country. Ali Kurd further said that it is high time that lawyer community should further speed up their struggle for achieving the goal of free judiciary in the country. Former President Supreme Court Bar Hamid Ali, Munir A Malik, President High Court Bar Association Rawalpindi Sardar Azmatullah and many others also spoke on the occasion.