Judiciary’s position parallel to that of executive, legislature: CJ
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. — File photo
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday said that interpretation of laws was the judiciary’s calling whereas implementation of those laws was the executive’s responsibility, DawnNews reported.
Addressing a full court reference on the occasion of Justice Shakirullah Jan’s retirement, the chief justice said that the judiciary was aware of the fundamental rights of the people and the authorities and rights of state institutions.
He said that the judiciary held a position parallel to that of the legislature and of the executive.
The chief justice rejected the perception that the judiciary was playing the role of the opposition, adding that, all state institutions should respect the judiciary’s independence.
He added that the existence of and respect for an independent judiciary was inevitable for the state.
Judges are civil servants whose job is to provide justice to people. They are appointees, not elected.
If Judges want political power, they should get themselves elected.
Judges must respect the peoples elected representatives. Judges do not have a mandate from people to govern.
I understand that situation of the lower counts is real bad and poor does not get justice but it all has to start from the top. CJ is doing a great job, if the rich poiticians, elite class, PM, President are not held accountable, dont expect justics from the lower courts. We should all support the CJ.
If executives have the fear they can be caught and held accountable, this will flow to the lowest level in no time.
This CJ has taken on him a strange role. He should better look in the lower courts and provide justice to common man. Why he is delaying this action? Perhaps he is afraid to antagonise his judiciary.
Who says this judiciary is 'Independent' — it is NOT — this judiciary is the prisoner of its own refurbished self righteousness.
The CJ is trying his best to stabalize Paksitan. We need the parliamnet and the executive to step up. Until we see all three institutions running right, there will always be this air dysfunction in the country. I agree that judicial sytem at the lower level needs to be strengthened. A strong Supreme Court can work on bringnig changes at the lwoer level. Give the CJ a break. He has done a great service to Pakistan.
The disservice has come from our political leaders who spend most of theri waking hours trying to figure out how to loot this country.
I do think that Supreme court is doing it's job but what about other courts. I would like to ask Mr. CJ Who is responsible to make sure that a common man also gets justice. What is the state of all the other courts including civil courts.
Once the top is fixed, common man will get justice in no time. The reason why common man is not getting justice today is because the elite, politicians are not held accountable. I think the CJ is doing the difficult part, once this is done, lower courts can be fixed in no time because there will be no influence from the top on the lower courts. hope it make sense to you.
It is amazing how one playful man driven by an ego as mighty as the Mount K2 can muddy the waters of all five rivers of Pakistan — and wouldn't let it go.
Let it go, man let it go.
His target is president Zardari, I am feeling very disappointment when I see this man, he should be removed and a honest CJ should take the place. If you visits the lowere judiciary, it is disaster and full of corruption and failed to deliver justice. We should focus the improve the justice system in the country, CJ shouldn't middle politics and should deliver to all customers not only Imran khan and Nawaz sherif. He should bring his son also t justice.
I have been talking about the vengence not justice of CJ. This man cannot be trusted. When he got caught with his hand in cookie jar (His son's case) he showed his real character of loliness.He cannot be trusted, people are right he is playing politics and creating parrallel governament. He want to be above law.
Instead of blaming anything on CJ we should first talk about the corrupt and criminal executives especially how in order to protect the head of the criminals the whole govt and the resources of the country are being used/abused.
Please also remember your famous criminal executive has been in prison for many years but no judge ever punished them, so how they could be criminals, legally speaking. those who provided air-conditioning in the prison were also judges. Pakistani courts are equally corrupt as your executive. What we Pakistanis are not understanding and it is very disappointing that it is all game-playing, no one is serious in this country.
Well said. I am surprised at the negative comments against CJ and the quality of readership here. If we dont support independance of Judiciary today, it will come back and hanut us tomorrow. CJ Iftikhar is performing a Jihad in a country like Pakistan. He and his colleagues are trying to establish the basis for a independance of Judiciary. Not sure why its so hard to understand to so many people. A sad state Pakistan is in for sure
This man must be highly admired to bring accountability to a lawless government.
I am so sick and tired on his daily pronouncements. Why does he fail to see what goes on in the lower court systems and fix that first. He has lost all credibility.
This man is totally out of control. He is an embarrassment. I cannot wait for him to just leave us alone.
He forgets that he is a PCO judge. He has the audacity to talk about upholding the constitution. What a shame. Why does he not open the hundreds of other NRO cases. Why just one?????????
Guys who r obsessed n paranoid with judiciary is bcz their own freedom to loot are at stake bcz the present judiciary has proved to fight nail n tooth n hv the support of the masses….go n talk to any person in the street…..what do u guys opposing the judiciary want CJ / judiciary to do ? Let people loot n plunder n the court shud look the other way ? Com on speak up…
This CJ is a disgrace for Pakistan. Why cant he send to jail his own corrupt son. Why is justice being delayed when his family is involved. He should step down asap.
Congratulations to Zardari… he has dragged the Supreme court into politics…
This man is disgrace to country
Why?
Our CJ looks more like a politician than a Judge., just read his daily statement out of court. Independent judiciary is a must and this is true but just independent does not mean anything, we need a honest judiciary which works for the rule of law. Unfortunately in Pakistan judiciary is as corrupt as any other institutions of the country. Looking at the cases in the Supreme Court these days, it is quite clear that CJ is running after the government as if rest of the country is all perfect in accordance with the law. After living in Europe for more than 30 years, I have never seen senior judges making public statements as our CJ is doing as a routine. How all this will benefit Pakistan, I have my doubts but wish all goes well for our country which has always been exploited for personal benefits by all (politicians, military, bureaucracy and judges etc.). Good Luck Pakistan.
Did you ever see european politicians behaving and looting their country like their Pakistani counterparts have done and doing.
Justice Iftikhar is the personality responsible for confrontation with all government (Musharraf and Zardari) and the conf;lict has been playing havoc with the economy of the country and paralysing the government machinery. Now people are praying in their prayers that this man should leave judiciary and join some political party so that stability returns to this devastated country.
This man should be ashamed of him self. CJ is an honest man and believes in justice for all. Our nation should be proud of him.
can anyone explain to me how the present judiciary is biased and toward whom? Our people are not habitual of independent justice system historically so it is beyond their understanding that what present judiciary is trying to do.
It is something very new and painful reality. if we say that present judiciary is biased in other word we are favoring the corrupts. because there is no MUK MAKA is going to happen so it will be like that.
existence of an independent judiciary guarantees the safeguards the rights of its nationals,t
This man needs to go and now – he can then join the PTI or Jamaat -e-Islami or PML N and do his politics there instead of doing it from the bench.
Do I sense a spiritual son of PPP venting his frustration at being repeatedly checked and then being checkmated ?
and leave the corrupt PPP and its leaders to plunder the wealth of Pakistan, a crime they have already commited and being investigated.
independent judiciary ha ha where in pakistan joke of the day question is can a biased judiciary be called independent judiciary?
Yes sure, if bias is against corrupt leadership then we stand with this biased judiciary. Either you quit your corrupt/feudalism tactics or either face the justice and true justice means no difference between ruler and a common individual.
what about cj son and corrupt judges and rest of corrupt pakistanis did corrupt people belong to PPP
existence of an independent judiciary guarantees the sanctity of the constituion of a country and safeguards the rights of its nationals,two legs on which a state stands and moves forward.without it anarchy and corruption takes its roots,flourishes and destroys the country.
I presume you are talking of another country and surely not Pakistan. In Pakistan judiciary is the as corrupt as others (politice, politicians etc.). independent and honest will be the correct wording and not just independent.
True, but where is it?
It is getting there my friend, and as a true partiotic Pakistani, we must support Judiciary.
Judicary role is to provide Justice , to common man right from civil Judge to supreme court did it able to deliver .simply visit District court and see for yourself the people frustration
If for some reason the judicial institution loses its relevance, the whole system of the state becomes unmanageable.
That is precisely why Pakistan is in its present state of affairs where everybody wants to control others without looking at own house.