President Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jehangir has said that all the institutions including the judiciary should work within constitutional domain for rule of law in the country.
She was addressing the national conference on the state of
constitutionalism in Pakistan organized by Centre for Civic Education
in connection with the International day of democracy in Islamabad on
Thursday.
She said it is not appropriate for the judiciary to declare the
government as a failed one as the mandate rests with the people to pass
their judgment in this regard through the power of vote. She noted that
the judiciary’s function is to deliver judgments as per the
constitution and laws, adding no judiciary can function independently
without a democratic set up in the country. She said the situation will
become more precarious if the judiciary will start giving political
decisions and the media setting agenda for the country.
The president surpeme court bar association said there is dire need
to move from confrontationist approach to constructive criticism and
build consensus on important national issues for the promotion of
democratic values.
Calling for the continuation of the system, Asma Jehangir said that
electoral process needs to be improved and mandate of the people be
respected in order to strengthen the democratic system.
She said due to dictatorial regimes many of our national parties
became regional ones and restricted to one province. She said the
existing national level parties are our assets and vital when the
country is passing through difficult times. She said though the
political parties lack democracy within their file but it does not mean
to push them to wall. Rather voice should be raised for bringing
reforms in them. She further stated that it was the consensus
constitution, political parties, the civil society and the judiciary
that prevented Pakistan from becoming a failed state despite all odds.
She called for bringing reforms in civil and military bureaucracy,
saying their role is not to govern but to implement the decisions of
the governments.
Asma Jehangir said there should be no impunity for anyone and law should take its course in all cases. SANA
