ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry on Saturday said that the independent judiciary of Pakistan, duly supported by the media and the civil society, has rendered landmark judgments.

“All and sundry to follow rule of law and there is no immunity for anyone come what may” was the one and only one baseline of these landmark decisions, said the chief justice while addressing a roll signing ceremony of the Supreme Court lawyers.

He said it was high time that this sea change in our constitutional and political history is accepted by all without any ifs and buts.

Welcoming the lawyers enrolling in the Supreme Court, he said it was a significant acknowledgement of their life-long commitment to the profession of law.

The chief justice said the country witnessed unprecedented changes in the wake of lawyers' movement resulting into a healthy debate about the need to change our old habits where many expediencies held sway over rule of law and supremacy of the constitution.

He remarked that this was a new Pakistan where old structures are crumbling and past demons of extra constitutional deviations are being exterminated one by one.

“We have learned from history that no country can realise the dream of progress and prosperity for its people without following the route of rule of law and supremacy of constitution,” he commented.

Justice Chaudhry reiterated that in this day and age the lawyers' community generally and the institution of judiciary particularly have gained much respect from the people of Pakistan and even beyond.

However, to keep this respect and honour intact, it was incumbent upon both the bench and the bar to leave no stone unturned to provide services to the citizens who knock at the door of judiciary at any level, he added.