CJ says Pakistan’s future linked to rule of law, constitutionalism

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan, Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Tuesday said the country’s future is linked to upholding rule of law, independence of judiciary and constitutionalism.

“Sustained growth and development does not take place in an environment that is not characterized by the supremacy of the rule of law,” he said while addressing a meeting of the Senate Committee of the Whole.

It was for the first time in the country’s parliamentary and political history that a serving chief justice addressed the Senate.

He urged the government to take appropriate measures to ensure provision of basic human rights to the public and inexpensive and speedy justice to the masses.

Primarily, the CJP said it was for the Parliament to examine, invest and innovate to improve the quality and reach of justice services based on its oversight functions representatives to legislative and budget for change.

“It is for the Parliament to check the quality of rule of law and to take necessary steps to ensure the enforcement of constitutional imperatives and ideals,” he added.

Justice Jamali said the higher judiciary was committed to working with all state institutions to strengthen the rule of law to make Pakistan a modern and progressive country.

He said the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan has been tasked to focus on developing a national narrative on strengthening the rule of law.

Highlighting responsibilities of the state institutions, CJP Jamali said they must be representatives, neutral and impartial in implementation of laws and policies.

“Under the constitution, the independence of judiciary shall be fully secured and all executive and judicial authorities throughout Pakistan shall act in aid of the Supreme Court.”

He said the Constitution sets out a fine balance between the different state institutions and organisations, adding that distribution of state powers and authority must be observed by state actors.

The CJP further said, “in implementing our respective constitutional mandates it implies that State actors need to cooperate and at the same exercise restrain to enable the other to fulfill their responsibility.”

He said there was a need to make greater effort to strengthen constitutionalism in the state and society for raising public awareness about the promise of Pakistan and basic transformative elements of the Constitution that define the relationship between the state and society.