August 30, 2007	Thursday	Sha'aban 16, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has said that “full implementation” of the Constitution is necessary for a prosperous and progressive Pakistan.

Talking to a delegation of Multan District Bar Association headed by its president Akram Bhatti in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, the chief justice said the successful movement of lawyers had restored the respect of judiciary, rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution in the country.

He said the recent movement of lawyers was not for the person of the chief justice, but it was meant for the restoration of the respect of judiciary as an institution. The chief justice also praised the civil society for extending its support to the lawyers in their movement.

“The civil society participated in an overwhelming number in our cause,” he said, adding it was now lawyers’ turn to return to the civil society their due and provide them services through their profession.

He said the lawyers could do so through quick disposal of cases.

According to the chief justice, the main problem is the delay caused in the cases due to one reason or the other.

“Unfortunately, a common man faces this problem enormously at the lower courts,” he said. He said that if the lawyers and the judiciary understood their responsibility towards the society and if they could tackle the issue then it would be a great service to the community and the respect given to them by the civil society would increase even more.

The chief justice said the Supreme Court was receiving 600 to 700 human rights and pubic interest cases demanding suo motu actions to resolve the issues.

“This shows the trust and confidence the common man has in our institution,” he said.

Registrar of the Supreme Court, Dr Faqir Hussain, was also present during the meeting.