CJP rejects notion of institutional pressure on judiciary

Lahore: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Saturday dismissed the notion of institutional pressure on the judiciary and said that neither anyone ever interfered in his work nor he was pressurized to announce a specific verdict.

Addressing Asma Jahangir conference in Lahore, the chief justice said that people should not be mistaken and the impression that courts are not independent is wrong as he always gave verdicts in light of constitution and law.

Gulzar Ahmed said that all the judges of the Supreme Court, High Courts and lower courts have been working hard to provide justice to the people. Neither he took dictation from anyone nor he was pressurized by any institution to pass certain verdicts. 

Chief Justice further stated that the courts are working according to justice and they are free to decide what they want.

The CJP said that Pakistan is ruled by law not human beings, we will continue to support constitution, law and democracy in the country, and we will not accept any undemocratic setup.

Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti said that judiciary is the guardian of citizens’ rights.

Speaking at the conference, the LHC CJ said that judiciary has significant role in the society. The Constitution gives importance to the fundamental rights of the people, he added.

The LHC CJ said that citizens’ rights are basis of democratic society.