Karachi: The chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Saqib Nisar, on Monday said all state institutions should perform their roles within constitutional parameters and the country’s supreme court had complete authority to review the role of institutions if they surpassed that role.
In a full court reference that was held to mark the new judicial year, Justice Nisar in his address said it was essential to protect democracy.
“Injustice negates the basic rights of the citizen and the injustice subsequently leads towards anarchy,” he said.
Justice Nisar added judiciary imparts justice in accordance with the constitution and law, and the protection of the basic rights could only be ensured through the law and constitution.
The chief justice said judges should not be under any kind of influence while reviewing a case and if any state authority or institution acted against the law and constitution, the judiciary had right to review the case.
His remarks came weeks after the Supreme Court of Pakistan in its one of its historic verdicts ordered the removal of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister and a parliamentarian after he found guilty of hiding his income and assets.
The case against Sharif was filed by the opposition parties and leaders after his daughter and sons were accused of huge fortunes accrued in London and elsewhere abroad. Information on the assets were leaked in the Panama papers scam that was busted by an investigative journalist organisation.
After the removal of Sharif, he and his party leaders criticised the court for being too stern with Sharif, who was not directly named in the scam.
The leaders also indicated in their statements and speeches that the court handed the verdict under the influence of Pakistan’s powerful establishment.
Sharif has been replaced by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, another stalwart of his party, as prime minister unlike in the past when entire governments changed with the removal of a prime minister.
