Courts should ensure citizens’ basic rights: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Thursday said that courts have to take steps for ensuring basic rights of the citizens when governments do not concentrate on issues related to fundamental rights.

The Chief Justice was addressing as chief guest at the book launching ceremony of Book “Reading the Constitution of Pakistan “,authored by Justice ® Syed Shabbar Raza Rizvi held here in the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice said that as a Chief Justice it is his responsibility to protect the basic human rights of the citizens and to protect rule of law and supremacy of the constitution.

Governance has become very complex, expensive as public is facing many problems and coping with difficult situation as normal issues like construction of roads, looking after the parks which the government should concentrate on, not doing so”, the Chief Justice said adding that even the government is not fulfilling its responsibilities of making constructions in legal manner.

The chief justice said that courts are burdened with such nature of issues as government is not fulfilling its responsibilities.

“The courts however, will fulfill its obligations in accordance with law and constitution”, the CJP added.

Addressing the ceremony, former Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa said that the book has interpreted the constitution adding that the four martial laws had ruined the supremacy of the constitution while the martial law administrators had used the constitution at their own will.

The former chief justice further said parliamentary and presidential systems were experienced in the country besides experiencing socialism, free market, Islamism and welfare state.

Similarly, several experiences were seen by the country in the judicial system and time will tell which one remained most successful”,

Justice ® Asif Saeed Khan Khosa said.

The former chief justice said that opposition always levels allegation of corruption on the government but when it comes in power, face the same as well adding that the government and opposition jointly appoint heads of NAB and Election Commission of Pakistan.

“Leveling allegation against each other when makes such appointments then how the public will pose confidence on them”, Justice ® Khosa questioned adding that until and unless there will be no transparency and accountability, no government can run with contentment.

He further said that when a case is filed against a politician then the whole party comes in defense and the tradition of standing with the group kills the merit adding that when a case is filed against a lawyer, protest was made across the country.

The former chief justice further said that when a former military dictator was convicted by a special court, the army told on TV that they are sad adding that according to military spokesman Pak army is like a family.

“This is dangerous trend and if not discouraged then consequences will be severe”, Justice ( R) Asif Saeed Khan Khosa added.

Attorney General Khalid Javed while speaking on the occasion said there was no constitution with consensus when the country was split into two and later on 1973 constitution was framed with consensus but after independence it was told in the elections if anyone voted against Muslim League, will not be a Muslim.

Apart from personalities belonging to different departments, the book launching ceremony was also attended by ambassadors of different countries.