Govt believes in trichotomy of power: President Zardari

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said the government firmly believed in trichotomy of power which was well defined in the Constitution of the country.

Talking to a delegation of Executive Committee of Supreme Court Bar Association, here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, he said it was imperative for strength and stability of the system, that every institution of the state performed its functions in accordance with the constitutional limits.

He said in comparatively young democracies, some institutions may, at times, appear to be overstepping their constitutional limits but added that this was part of the evolutionary process.

The president told the delegation headed by its President Muhammad Yaseen Azad comprised of Muhammad Aslam Zar, Sardar Abdul Majeed Khan, Ms. Rukhsana Malik and M. Aslam Ghuman.

Law Minister Senator Farook H. Naek, Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar, Secretary to the President Malik Asif Hayat and other officials were also present during the meeting.

He said the government, committed to ideals of democracy, supremacy of the people's will and independence of state institutions, has taken a number of important steps, during its tenure, for strengthening of rule of law in the country.

He said restoration of 1973 Constitution to its original form was no small achievement of the present government.

The members of the Executive Committee said the Bar had always supported democracy and democratic institutions and would continue to do the same in the future as well.

They said the Bar believes that all state institutions should work within their constitutional limits and that a clash of institutions be avoided.

President SCBA Muhammad Yaseen Azad said the Bar stands for continuity of the democratic process and strengthening of the democratic institutions.

President Zardari welcoming the delegation appreciated the contributions made by the SCBA for upholding democracy, supremacy of rule of law and independence of judiciary and the important role it played for the welfare of the members of legal fraternity, streamlining the legal system and in providing legal assistance to the poor and needy.

The president said the government acknowledged Bar's services for the cause of independence of judiciary, rule of law and strengthening of democracy and would continue to provide all possible support with respect to facilitation in their profession.

The president expressed the hope that the Bar Council would continue to play its important role in the provision of speedy and inexpensive justice especially to the weaker and vulnerable sections of society and in protecting the Constitution, rule of law and democracy in the country.

Muhammad Yaseen Azad also raised some issues concerning the lawyers community including grants to SCBA, construction of SCBA Complex and Housing scheme for the lawyers community in the capital.

President Zardari assured the delegation that he would advise the government to immediately release Rs 30 million as grant to SCBA and to also consider the other issues of the Bar favorably.

The delegation also discussed with the president current situation in the country particularly the law and order situation in Balochistan.