TERENCE J SIGAMONY
ISLAMABAD: Dismissing rumours of a ‘judicial’ martial law, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar once again made it clear that there is no room for it.
“If we can’t fulfill our basic priorities, I don’t deserve to be the CJP and will go home but won’t endorse any undemocratic action,” he said, adding, “There is no possibility of a judicial martial law in the country.” The Chief Justice urged the masses to have trust in him and promised loyalty in return.
Addressing a ceremony on Thursday to rename the auditorium at Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) building in the name of Asma Jahangir, the Chief Justice said she was a dauntless human rights lawyer and always fought for the rights of minorities.
The Chief Justice paid tribute to Asma Jahangir and recalled, “Asma considered me as her brother and I respected her as my sister.”
Asma Jehangir during her tenure as President SCBA had obtained land and funds from the Pakistan Peoples Party government for the construction of building for SCBA lawyers.
The Chief Justice said everything is clear in the Constitution and during his tenure no unconstitutional action would be tolerated. “There will only be democracy, democracy and democracy in this country,” the CJP promised, adding that the judiciary will not let even a word of the Constitution be marred in any way.
The Chief Justice also assured that no delay in the elections will be allowed because the same is not permitted by the Constitution of Pakistan.
“There is no space for any martial law in the Constitution,” the CJP added.
The Chief Justice said he can only laugh at the talk of a ‘judicial takeover’, adding that such rumours appeared to have been spread through some “design or plan”.
He said the time has passed that the judges hold their position with dirt on their foreheads.
He also commented on the upcoming general elections and assured that they will be held on time. “The Constitution of Pakistan does not allow the Supreme Court to amend the election act,” said the CJP.
On 23rd March (Pakistan Day) while addressing the gathering at Cathedral Church, Lahore, the Chief Justice had ruled out the possibility of ‘judicial martial law and said that there was no room for it in the Constitution. “The Constitution does not allow any such thing,” he added.
Last month, Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed had urged the CJP to impose a 90-day long ‘judicial martial law’. He had requested to appoint caretaker prime minister as the whole nation is looking up to the judiciary.
President Supreme Court Bar Association Peer Kaleem also paid tributes to Asma Jehangir. He, on this occasion, put forward some recommendations for amendments in the SC Rules. He requested the Chief Justice to constitute a full bench for the amendments in the Supreme Court rules. He expressed concern over a huge number of pending cases in Lahore High Court.
