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ISLAMABAD: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that missing persons cases are very important and that was the reason he announced a vital judgment in the Malakand 35 undeclared detainees last year.
The ex-CJP was talking to The Nation on the sidelines of the two-day International Judicial Conference. The conference had been organised by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan in the Supreme Court building to discuss the issues of common concern and evolve strategies to improve the administration of justice. The national and foreign dignitaries, including the chief justices, judges, jurists, luminaries of law and renowned researchers, participated in the conference.
The ex-CJP said the missing persons’ cases were very important, but refrained from commenting on the present policy of the apex court on the issue.
When the incumbent Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani was, however, asked by a reporter at the conference to comment on the perception that the Supreme Court had changed its policy on missing persons, he denied it and said: “The courts don’t make policies; they just give verdicts; the judges are independent and are giving judgments in accordance with the law.”
Justice Jillani, in his keynote address at the International Judicial Conference on Friday, stated the Supreme Court was fully cognizant of, and sympathetic about, the plight of the families of the missing persons and it must resist the urge to step beyond its constitutional limits. “I commend this restraint because it is my firm conviction that the Supreme Court must remain conscious of human rights as its actions are not limited to a single time and space, but become a source of jurisprudence for years to come.”
The former chief justice said he was striving to safeguard human rights and would continue to do the same in future as well. In this connection, he had sent a letter to the incumbent Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani to take suo motu notice on the death of children in Thar due to hunger.
Justice Iftikhar, who retired on attaining the age of superannuation on December 11, 2013, reads newspapers, books and meets guests in his free time at his residence in Judges’ Colony, Islamabad.
He participated in the conference as a special guest. About summoning of army officers by the courts, he said: “I summoned everyone (including military officials) in accordance with the law.” He expressed satisfaction over taking up human rights cases by the Supreme Court, saying the apex court was hearing the HR cases with the same zeal as was being done in his tenure.
Justice Chaudhry did not comment on Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif’s statement which had created ripple in the society. He said there was no clash among the institutions during his time and at present. He said the judges were dispensing justice in accordance with the law.
Iftikhar Chaudhry has not so far decided to launch an NGO or a political party, or joining any of the parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, but said: “There are many options under consideration,” adding it was too early to reveal his plans.
link: http://www.nation.com.pk/islamabad/20-Apr-2014/no-clash-among-institutions-ex-cjp
