Every constitutional institution should play its role: CJP

Says no compromise on issue of missing persons; judiciary has to intervene if administration crosses its limits; office of judge not a job but a responsibility; a section of media misreported his remarks on SJC

QUETTA: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Sunday said that every constitutional institution should play its part and they should not compromise on the issue of missing persons. He said the country faced problems under different regimes including unjust distribution of resources and the creation of a sense of deprivation.

He said the judiciary has to play its role if the administration crosses its limits or human rights are violated. He said the search for missing persons should continue and the court will not compromise on this issue. He stated this while speaking at a dinner hosted for him by the Balochistan High Court Bar Association (BHCBA).

Judges of the Supreme Court, BHC Chief Justice Noor Muhammad Muskanzai, lawyers’ leader Ali Ahmad Kurd, Kamran Murtaza and others were present on the occasion. The CJP said no one is above the law and it is the responsibility of all to run state institutions effectively. He said every citizen is entitled to the protection of their right to freedom. He said constitutionally, the country stands on three pillars.

The office of a judge is not a job but a responsibility. He said there is no room for corruption in the Balochistan judiciary and the country will move towards prosperity if everyone pulls together.

He said the important thing is that the country has a constitution based on consensus according to which all institutions are working. If every institution works within its constitutional limits, justice will be done to the masses on time.

He said cooperation between the bar and bench holds the key to prompt dispensation of justice to the masses. He told the lawyers that the Almighty has chosen them for the mission of giving relief to the deprived.

He said a section of the media has misreported what he said about the Supreme Judicial Council. He said he never meant that a sword keeps hanging on the heads of judges. He said he meant that there is a need of self-accountability everywhere including the judiciary which should do away with its mistakes, if any.

He appreciated that the BHC has filled all vacancies in the lower courts hoping that this step will lead to prompt dispensation of justice. He said he hopes that the Balochistan chief justice will soon send names for filling vacancies in the BHC.

The Balochistan chief justice welcomed the CJP and others and said that a regular SC bench is needed here to redress people’s problems. He said three sessions judges and Qazis have been sacked due to corruption and merit was ensured in making appointments in courts.—Originally published in The News