LAHORE, June 12: Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry says the Supreme Court is vested with powers to strike down a constitutional provision limiting its scope.

He was addressing, on the premises of the Lahore High Court, a joint reception hosted by the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), Lahore Bar Association (LBA) and Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA). The marathon reception began on Wednesday evening and concluded on Thursday morning,

Several lawyers Dawn spoke to termed both the turnout and enthusiasm “below expectations” in comparison with what they had witnessed during

the deposed chief justice’s

reception last year at the same spot.

The deposed and retired judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC), Sindh High Court (SHC) and Lahore High Court (LHC) were present. The speeches of Supreme Court Bar Association president Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and Pakistan Bar Council member Ali Ahmad Kurd infused enthusiasm in

the participants visibly tired after hours of wait and miles of travel.

The chief justice arrived at the venue at 3am on Thursday after landing at the Allama Iqbal Airport at 6pm on Wednesday, spent over an hour inside the barroom before finally delivering his speech at 7am in the morning. “A free judiciary can ensure true democracy in Pakistan,” Justice Chaudhry read from his written speech titled ‘why an independent judiciary?’

He said the lawyers community had stirred a revolution, which must be brought to its logical end otherwise people would lose hope in the movement. He said it was evident from the history that only those nations got prosperity which ensured justice.

The deposed chief justice said the judiciary had the responsibility to ensure that the government established supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law. However, the judiciary too was bound to exercise its powers within the laid-down parameters for its working, he added.

“Only an independent judiciary can make every state institution do justice with the people. Such a judiciary can only be made possible if seasoned, capable and impartial judges were at the helm,” he said. Justice Chaudhry added the voice of the people, who had risen for the independence of judiciary, could not be suppressed now.

Speaking on the occasion, Supreme Court Bar Association President Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan said the focus of the movement was the parliament because it had the power to restore the judges.

Deposed LHC judge Khwaja Muhammad Sharif said the PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was reluctance in restoring the judges by pulling out of the Muree declaration. He added Justice Chaudhry was deposed because he was providing justice to the poor against the interests of the generals, the landlords and the agencies. Deposed senior judge of the Sindh High Court Sarmad Jala Usmani said it was the mission of every citizen to ensure supremacy of the Constitution. He added the movement was not about his restoration or other judges but for the independence of the judiciary.

He said the situation had changed now as the army would have no role in the country’s politics.

Pakistan Bar Council member Ali Ahmad Kurd said those sitting in the parliament had the responsibility to mirror the aspirations of the people, and submit to their will. “We are going to the parliament to remind them of their obligation,” he said.

He said the movement would not end with the restoration of judges because it had at its heart the cause of justice for all. He said Nawab Akbar Bugti was a great Baloch leader and the rulers had to face consequences of his murder.

Former SCBA president Munir A Malik said the long march towards Constitutional Avenue would reveal the difference between those who refused and those who took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO). He added the long march was a struggle for the oppressed and would prove to be the

milestone in the struggle for the restoration of deposed judges.

Pakistan Bar Council member Hamid Khan criticized the constitutional package and the delay in the restoration of the deposed judges. He termed it another war for independence in the sub-continent. Mr Khan added the government

intended to increase the number of the Supreme Court

judges for protecting the PCO judges.

Sindh High Court Bar Association President Rashid A Rizvi said the judges should be restored immediately otherwise lawyers would be compelled to say that the present parliament was continuation of the previous one.

Lahore High Court Bar Association President Anwar Kamal said the lawyers’ movement was neither political nor violent because it carried the sole agenda for the restoration of the superior judiciary to what it was on Nov 2.

He said the lawyers had given confidence to the nation, which was bulldozed time and again by the imposition of martial laws.

Supreme Court Bar Association’s executive body member from NWFP Musarat Hilali, Karachi Bar Association president Mahmoodul Hassan and Lahore Bar Association President Manzoor Qadir also spoke.