KARACHI
Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on Thursday said that there would be no compromise on the enforcement of the rule of law and constitution.
Speaking at a dinner reception hosted in his honour by the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), he said that rule of law is essential for transforming the society to a civilised one.
The CJP said that every individual and institution would need to play its role in confronting the challenges faced by the country. The judiciary will continue to uphold and implement the constitution and the laws of the country, he added.
Justice Jillani said that legal fraternity has a role to play both in dispensation of justice in court and also in defending and preserving the seminal values of the constitution and thereby ushering in a social transformation.
The CJP said that lines have already been drawn between those who want to break these values in the name of faith or their narrow world view and those who would defend these values.
He said that the constitution does not create any distinction among citizens on fundamental rights as it guarantees right to life and right to worship to all including minorities and it promises access to inexpensive justice to all.
The CJP said that these decisive values of substantive democracy and the rule of law are under serious threat on account of the growing intolerance and violence. We are in the grip of an existential crisis.
Justice Jillani said that the court by and large refrains from interfering in matters of public policy. “We believe that it is not the function of the court to get embroiled in politics or passions of the day,” he added.
Sindh High Court Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar and SHCBA President ZK Jatoi also spoke. Judges of the SC and SHC as well as members of the SHCBA were in attendance.
