Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Asma Jahangir has said the powers of the judiciary were being used to take revenge.
Addressing the Sindh High Court Bar Association Sukkur Bench on Thursday, Asma said, “The judiciary is not the property of the chief justice or any particular judge, but it is an institution that has to be strengthened. The pen in the hand of the judiciary is the trust of the nation, which cannot be exploited to take revenge, but unfortunately the power of judiciary is being misused for retribution.’”
She said the judiciary carried out “selective type of work” only and used its suo motu authority “for their benefit”. Asma said personalities having political awareness could not be good judges, as the position required a broad minded person. The SCBA president said democracy had returned, but safe houses of intelligence agencies were still working, “where people are kept after abduction. The government should not only identify these safe houses and shut them down but also hold these agencies accountable”.
“Judiciary is not a Punchayat that can be handed over to anybody on contract. If the government tries to influence the decisions of the court, I will be the first to protest. We know how to protest,” Asma added. She said the duty of lawyers was to seek rights for the people. She said the people looked towards of the judiciary when democracies got inflicted with despotism. Asma said that the after passage of the 18th Amendment, those who gave verdict against PCO judges already knew they were not actually judges.
She said the government may appoint provincial ombudsmen to prevent the violation of human rights and extra judicial killings in police custody and control abductions.
