During a speech at the Asma Jehangir Conference at Lahore’s Avari Hotel, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed said that the judiciary was completely independent and did not take ‘dictation’ from any state institution.
He was responding to a fiery speech by the former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Ali Ahmed Kurd who said that the judiciary was not playing its role in protecting human rights.
Earlier, while delivering an intense speech, Kurd said that Pakistan’s judiciary did not protect the rights of its citizens which was evident from the fact that it was ranked 126th in the Rule of Law index 2021. He also addressed the missing persons situation in Balochistan.
The CJP, at beginning of his speech, said that as head of the judiciary it was important that he responded to the remarks made by Kurd. He said that all the judges of the Supreme Court, high courts, and the lower judiciary were working hard to deliver justice to the people. He added that he has never given any decision under any sort of pressure at all. All the decisions that I have taken are a result of my independent understating of the law and the constitution.
He said that the judiciary was ensuring the rule of law and implementing the constitution in the country.
The CJ said that generalised statements should not be made which eroded people’s trust in the state institutions. While concluding his speech, he said that in Pakistan the law was supreme and no undemocratic setup would ever be accepted.
