ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday said the Supreme Court holds absolute authority when it comes to matters of national interests, adding the concepts of national security and stability are changed as arsenal strength can not assure it anymore, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to audience of the National Management Course in Islamabad, he said that giving judgments according to correct rules and regulations was a liability of judges of the apex court.

The CJ said that today, the concept of national security are evolving as states are now bound to provide its citizens with social security and to protect their civil rights at all costs. “Gone are the days when stability and security of the country was defined in terms of number of missiles, tanks and armory as a manifestation of hard power available at the disposal of the state,” said the chief justice.

Justice Chaudhry said that progress of the state is impossible without eliminating anarchy from the system. “Failure of administration and implementation structure is visible everywhere,” he said.

Emphasizing on importance of judiciary’s role, the chief justice said that as protectors of the constitution, heavy responsibility lies upon the judges of the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutional supremacy over all other institutions and authorities.

He said the courts are facing matters of social problems at multiple fronts, adding steps taken against the law and the constitution will push the society and the environment towards turmoil and unrest.

Justice Chaudhry then put forward following questions:

1- Do we reward merit and hard work? 2- Are the twin principles of rule of law and supremacy of the constitution being strictly enforced? 3- Do the citizens of the country trust the system and think it provides them fair opportunity to realize their dreams in a transparent manner? 4- Does the present system have the capacity to discourage the corrupt? 5- Do we have a system where civil and property rights are protected and contracts are fully enforced?

“Unfortunately, answer to the above questions is no…….the system is distorted and does not provide level playing field for the people to achieve in life whatever they are capable of,” remarked the CJ.