August 16, 2006	Wednesday	Rajab 20, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has called for urgent reforms in administrative, legislative and judicial spheres for effective dispensation of justice. “I am firmly committed to total independence of judiciary and stand for selection of judges strictly on the basis of merit,” he said.

Addressing the concluding session of the four-day International Judicial Conference on Monday, he said the government had already initiated a reform process. In judiciary, he added, an ‘Access to Justice Programme’ was under way to improve the delivery of justice.

Rejecting politicisation of judiciary, the president said he had never approached judiciary “for something he would like them to do”.

He emphasised the need for an even-handed approach and an honest and open effort for resolving festering political disputes to advance the cause of peace and justice in the world to make it a safer place to live in for all.

He said international disputes should be resolved in a just manner, adding that it would hit at the core of the causes of extremism and terrorism. “Extremism spawns terrorism, so we should strike at the core of injustices around the world.”

He said injustice bred resentment and made people vulnerable to exploitation by terrorists and obscurantist forces. Therefore, the dispensation of timely justice was a fundamental need of society.