News
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Restored constitution made institutions strong: Gilani
*Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry dilates upon close affinities between Pakistan, Oman judiciary
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday said restoration of the constitution in its original form had made the state institutions strong and vibrant.
Gilani was talking to Chief Justice of Oman Dr Ishaq bin Ahmad al Bosaeedi at the Prime Minister’s House.
“Your contribution, the prime minister, for bringing peace and stability in Pakistan will be written in golden words in the history as people come and go but history remembers,” said the chief justice of Oman, who is visiting Pakistan as the head of a delegation.
The prime minister said the present democratic government had restored the 1973 constitution as per the vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, which was disfigured by the dictators, making it neither parliamentary nor presidential.
Its restoration has made all institutions of the state strong, society and media vibrant and hence the future of Pakistan is bright, said the prime minister.
Gilani said he appeared twice in the Supreme Court recently, which clearly manifested that he held the judiciary and the rule of law in high esteem.
He said that after his unanimous election as leader of the House, his first action was to order the release of Supreme Court judges, who were confined by General Musharraf to their residences.
The prime minister said the people were the real source of power after Almighty and the authority was exercised by the elected representatives of the people for the well-being of the country and the people.
The prime minister invited the Sultan of Qaboos, the prime minister, ministers and the representatives of the civil society of Oman to visit Pakistan as people-to-people contacts were beneficial for building relations on durable basis between the two countries.
He highly appreciated the Sultan of Qaboos, who had been working faithfully for inter-faith harmony.
Gilani thanked the government and people of Oman for looking after the Pakistanis who have been working for the development of the economy of the host country.
The Omanese chief justice said the delegation was touched by the warmth and hospitality extended to it by the people and the government and members of delegation felt as they were at their second home.
The Chief Justice said it was the cardinal principle that executive and judiciary should work independent of each other to meet the demands of justice.
The Sultan of Qaboos has never interfered in the affairs of judiciary, which is working in an enabling environment, he said.
The chief justice and the delegation expressed their deep sense of gratitude to the Shariah Court for inviting them to visit Pakistan.
Separately, Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that there were a number of similarities in the legal systems of Pakistan and Oman and observed that they could take advantage by sharing experiences of one another.
He was addressing a delegation headed by Al Bosaeedi, and comprising Justice Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Rashid Al Siyabi, Justice Sheikh Salim bin Rashid Al Qalhati, Justice Sheikh Hamad bin Khamis Al Jahoori, and Sultan bin Hamad Al Bosaeedi, that called on him on Monday at the Supreme Court.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief justice of Pakistan said that the prime purpose of any judiciary was to interpret the constitution and provide speedy and quick justice to litigants by settling their disputes and granting them relief so that law might take its course. appCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk