All 17 judges of Supreme Court to resign on first sign of 'judicial martial law', CJP says
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Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday, while rubbishing the idea of a 'judicial martial law', said all 17 judges of the Supreme Court would step down if anyone tries to "harm" the country.
"This could be someone's heart's desire, but people should not think that we are doing anything to usher in 'judicial martial law' in the country," the chief justice said while addressing an event at Lahore's Aiwan-i-Iqbal.
"There is no such thing in the Constitution, and we will not do anything that is not by the book," the CJP said, before adding that no one in the country would let the judges do such a thing.
"I earlier said that if any such move is made, I will leave my post. Today, I am saying that if anyone tries to harm this country, all 17 judges of the Supreme Court will no longer continue in their posts."
He also stated unequivocally that the court will not take any pressure.
"This country is a democratic state. Allama Iqbal and the Quaid-i-Azam dreamt of it as a democratic state, and so it shall remain," he said.
"We will fight for the nation's rights and the day we feel that the country does not stand with us, we will give our posts up," Justice Nisar stated.
"I promise this nation that I will do whatever is in my power for this country," he added.
"Nations with no countries of their own are unfortunate. We should thank the Almighty that we have a country to call our own, which the Quaid [Muhammad Ali Jinnah] and Iqbal fought for us to get," Justice Nisar said.
"We did not get Pakistan as charity. We had to fight hard and sacrifice blood, sweat and tears to build this country. However, this country today is not being given its due importance."
"In my eye, education is the most important issue of all. Those nations which have educated their youth are leading the world today. We, on the other hand, are shutting educational institutions down instead of creating new ones to cater to our needs," the chief justice said.
Referring to the Punjab University case he had ruled on earlier in the day, Justice Nisar said, "80 canals of land from a university were taken away to build a grid station. How will this nation flourish until we give our youth the education they need to excel."
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Comments (50) Closed
Apr 21, 2018 06:29pm
Don’t know why but I have not seen any countries CHEIF JUSTICE delivering public speeches and interfering in country ploctics ??
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Apr 21, 2018 06:32pm
Great commitment from CJ
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Apr 21, 2018 06:36pm
Sir salute to you. Education should be our focus today. Education should be must for all. Social media and internet and media is not as important as education. Government should I mean should reduce their.luxary expenses and make sure education should consider first before budgeting thier luxury expenses
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Apr 21, 2018 06:39pm
Finally - if only there are others like him at the top
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Apr 21, 2018 06:49pm
We love you for cleaning up the mess created buy the dispicable dirty politicians. Thank you and we owe you!
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Apr 21, 2018 06:51pm
Long live CJP!
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Apr 21, 2018 06:52pm
Sounds like CJP runs the country now.
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Apr 21, 2018 07:00pm
If that is the case Sir, then it's time!
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Apr 21, 2018 07:32pm
Landmark and thought provoking speech to be remembered in the years to come. Hope it has shaken the conscience of those unconscionable and corrupt politicians and bureaucrats who have only robbed this country since its creation, fooled the public and destroyed the institutions.
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Apr 21, 2018 07:40pm
Wellsaid CJP sahib especially the statement about Importance of Education that was spot on
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Apr 21, 2018 07:48pm
Education is needed for everyone including Judiciary. Dismissal of Ex PM by SC was uncalled for. SC should have recommended the removal to Pakistani parliament. It is the authority of Parliament and not of SC.
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Apr 21, 2018 07:57pm
Hats 0f cjp. Being indian, i salute you
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Apr 21, 2018 08:00pm
The concept of law is to safe guard the and up hold the respect of the constitution..whosoever comes in the way should be taken to the task.we have to returns righteous people what's theirs and deprives sinners what isn't theirs....Errors do not cease to be errors simply because they were not ratified by the law.for a harsh society run by mafia requires harsh justice..we have to be with support our judiciary...first time in pakistan since i came to my senses. I am seeing a great change..folks. Just like freedom, Truth and justice is not cheap. Yet both are worth more than all the gold in the world. But what is freedom, if there is no truth and justice? And what is truth, if there is no freedom? All are worth fighting for — because one without the other would be hell.
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Apr 21, 2018 08:01pm
Very good speech by our honourable CJP dispelling any rumors or desires of corrupt mafia about imposing judicial 'Martial Law'. Well done CJP, keep up the good work, as nation support your sincere actions against dishonest politicians and black sheep of our society!
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Apr 21, 2018 08:30pm
And who exactly would determine that?
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Apr 21, 2018 09:15pm
MashaAllah. Good statements. May Almighty bless Pakistan and Muslim Ummah with good, honest and hard working leaders.(Ameen). Long Live Pakistan.
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Apr 21, 2018 09:26pm
The constitution needs to be updated lots of loopholes for unscrupulous Politicians .
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Apr 21, 2018 09:27pm
CJP is doing well
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Apr 21, 2018 09:34pm
CJP is right about education. He should resign and start his party as every single day he is on front page of newspaper with political statements.
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Apr 21, 2018 09:40pm
Those who disagree with your decisions and have doubts on your honesty and sincerity with the nation, either they are mentally sick or either they are open enemies of the nation.
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Apr 21, 2018 09:44pm
@Innocent
Mr. Innocent,
Because federal government and provincial
governments are fail for progress and looting
the public wealth.
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Apr 21, 2018 09:55pm
You deserve to be the PM of Pakistan.
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Apr 21, 2018 10:41pm
@Innocent If he is interfering it is for your own good. I am sure you haven't or will ever see such a corrupt systems in any part of the world as you witness in Pakistan. This is now being corrected by the CJ Nisar and we all should be thankful to him and stand by him
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Apr 21, 2018 10:42pm
"In my eye, education is the most important issue of all. Those nations which have educated their youth are leading the world today. We, on the other hand, are shutting educational institutions down instead of creating new ones to cater to our needs,"
At this point sincerity is more important than any law.
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Apr 21, 2018 11:03pm
If Mian Saqib Nissar wants to run the country; he should become a politician and fight elections. We don't need him giving speeches and picking and choosing casees. We need him to deliver Justice without fear or favor.
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Apr 21, 2018 11:05pm
we need a befitting editorial from dawn on this!
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Apr 22, 2018 12:55am
Yeah Right!!!
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Apr 22, 2018 01:22am
The survival of the country and the welfare of the nation is more important than the Constitution.
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Apr 22, 2018 01:27am
Have ever seen a country where Judges can appoint judges on their own;can impeach judges only through their own body of judges,can fix their own salary ,can promote themselves to higher grades and even then can claim to be righteous and fully justified in interfering in executive functions despite having backlog of million of cases.
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Apr 22, 2018 02:13am
Hatts off to the cj.. he is hitting nail right on the head and filling the vacuum left by corrupt government and exposing them as well as exposing their biased and out of merit appointments.
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Apr 22, 2018 02:24am
Bravo CJ. 1000% behind you in rain or shine.
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Apr 22, 2018 02:38am
Why justices are so active on public profile? Honoourable CJP has a point but the fact is we live in a different era where the martial law can't be sustained. The modus operandi has changed.
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Apr 22, 2018 02:38am
amazing how the dynamics of issues change when those in power are sincere sensible and educated. It not the form of govt but the morality of the leader that counts.
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Apr 22, 2018 03:05am
Well Said CJ
People are watching you and they have lots of expectations form you
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Apr 22, 2018 03:15am
@Innocent when those responsible go astray the vacuum has to be filled.
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Apr 22, 2018 03:30am
I love Chief Justice. I wish we had this kind of chief justice from 1947.
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Apr 22, 2018 04:01am
I fully concur and endorse the thought process of,”The Chief Justice of Pakistan,” and his point of views.
The Pakistani Nation need of the hour is:
1. well defined education system,
2. proper law and order,
3. rule of law,
4. credible political system,
5. accountability of all corrupt people/officials,
6. and above all abolishment of quota system,
7. Provision of basic essentials,
Thank you CJP. Long live Pakistan.
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Apr 22, 2018 04:41am
Honourable commitment by the honourable CJP. But should the nation only assume that the sixteen fellow judges agree with CJP or he has written commitment from from each of the 16 fellow judges that they will resign enmasse if need be? Even if the present bench resigns,what is the guarantee that there is no new set of judges who will step into the shoes of outgoing judges and not impose Judicial Martial Law ?
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Apr 22, 2018 05:30am
@Innocent : judicial intervention has become essential because executive/government has completely failed in governance
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Apr 22, 2018 06:01am
"All 17 judges of Supreme Court to resign on first sign of 'judicial martial law'"
What is funny is that none in the media have questioned what will constitute the first sign of judicial martial law? Many can easily argue that the first signs already appeared in 2016.
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Apr 22, 2018 06:03am
The judiciary is the watch-dog/guardian of the constitution as it stands passed at a given time. So if the constitution is being violated or about to be violated, the judiciary is within its rights to step in unilaterally and take the requisite action against such a violation taking place.
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Apr 22, 2018 06:38am
Thats not been the experience in the past.
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Apr 22, 2018 06:59am
@Innocent
Very well said. Appreciate his concerns in relation to various public sectors, it would be great if he could do something about hundreds of thousands of pending cases in courts across Pakistan.
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Apr 22, 2018 08:08pm
@Observer-India democracy is not real in Pakistan unlike her archrival India.
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Apr 22, 2018 09:20pm
I cannot but help admire the CJP, I will also hold him to that commitment to resist pressure from the establishment.
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Apr 22, 2018 09:44pm
Very brave comments! I salute you!!
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Apr 22, 2018 09:54pm
This country is a democratic state"
If so democracy needs to be redefined
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Apr 23, 2018 12:12am
Iqbal and Jinah gave us The Pakistan which died its unnatural death in Dec 1971 ( just 21 years after it was created ) , Where were you sir at that time of the history and what did you do ever since you had the highest court in your hand , to bring to justice for all those who were responsible for this unnatural ( human created and caused ) death . At least Open up the Jus Hammoodurehman commission report , and do a summary trial of all those who were at the helm of the affairs and at least sentence them to proper punishment ( albeit post death ) and Order to put chains around their graves ( a symbolic sentence ), Only then you will be able to be taken at your words
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Apr 23, 2018 12:48pm
@Innocent: True!
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Apr 24, 2018 03:14pm
Well said Sir.People like the CJP are selfless people and serving the country and that's what Pakistan requires. Please continue to take a firm and tough stand against the corrupt and dishonest politicians. NS and his daughter will continue to accuse honest people in order to fool the masses and gain the opportunity to loot the country.
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