QUETTA: Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel has said that it is impossible to fix the system of the country without abiding by the Constitution, adding that the government should work hard to solve problems of the country.

“We need to make new policies in order to make Pakistan able to face current challenges. We have not exercised our right to freedom. Every institution of the country is accountable to the nation for its performance,” Chief Justice Mandokhel said while addressing a flag hoisting ceremony held in the Balochistan High Court on the Independence Day.

“Today those who are being called traitors would come to power in the future. We have to decide that the Constitution will be implemented,” the BHC chief justice said, adding that a change would not come by only raising flags, but by delivering for the people of the country.

According to Chief Justice Mandokhel, those who consider the Constitution just as a piece of paper should realise that there will be no system in the country if there is no rule of law.

“We have always made the Constitution and the people of Pakistan part of the trash. Parliamentarians should be asked whether they come to assemblies with the study and preparation of the Constitution,” the chief justice said, lamenting over deviation from the Constitution.

He said that the Senate, National Assembly and provincial assemblies should be questioned how many laws they had made for the country. It was unfortunate that legislators in the country were always seeking development funds.

He said that being the BHC chief justice he was responsible and accountable for providing justice to the people.

“People who take salaries from the tax money are accountable to the people of the country. Breaking the Constitution is not treason and crime but we are busy in distributing certificates of treason among each other,” he said, questioning that “has the definition of treason changed in our country”.

He said: “If I cannot work then I have no right to hold this important position of the BHC chief justice.”

He stressed the need for producing leaders who could bring a real change in the country and work for the progress of its people.

Citing the example of development in South Korea, the chief justice said Pakistanis should learn from successes of other countries.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2020