Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry told thousands of cheering supporters on Sunday that dictatorship was a thing of the past and states that ignored the rule of law and basic rights faced destruction. Chaudhry arrived here on Sunday after thousands of supporters turned out to greet him as he travelled by road from Islamabad. The trip takes four hours but took him more than 20. “Nations and states which are based on dictatorship instead of the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law and protection of basic rights get destroyed,” Chaudhry, 58, said in the compound of the Lahore High Court to thousands of lawyers, 16 of Punjab’s 23 judges, and opposition activists outside on the street. The reception was organised by the Lahore High Court Bar Association.
“The idea of dictatorship and collective responsibility are over,” he said. “They are chapters from the past and those nations which don’t learn lessons from the past and repeat those mistakes, they have to pay a price,” he said in his 45-minute speech. He said that the Supreme Court had the right to take up basic human rights which were the backbone of a civilised society. He added that no person was above the law and that was why he had taken up and decided human rights cases on merit. “I received 12,000 complaints when I assumed charge as the CJP and decided 6,000 cases till March,” he said.
Chaudhry said Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution could not be suspended even in an emergency. “We understand the law and practice it. Some of our judgments put us in a trying situation,” he said. The CJP called for a true democratic system in the country, which ensured all fundamental human rights and minorities’ rights according to Islam. He said no legislation could be passed which was contrary to basic human rights, adding that the superior courts could cancel any such legislation. “The superior courts can protect the rights of citizens and institutions under various articles including 184, 187, 188 and 189 of the Constitution,” he said.
Chaudhry said Article 89 of the Constitution authorised the superior courts to hear petitions by people who felt that their rights were not being protected. “An independent judiciary can safeguard and protect the Constitution,” he said, adding that suo motu was an inherited right of the courts and he had taken several suo motu actions on issues of basic human rights as the CJP.
Chaudhry said that complaints against honour killings, rape, gang rapes and abduction were given priority by the superior courts, adding that instant decisions were given for public welfare and to set the precedent of rule of the law. He added that a special cell was opened at the SC for the benefit of common people. “There is a majority of people who don’t know where to seek justice and that is why I took the burden on myself,” he said.