ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday said the current parliament deserved praise on the passage of the 18th Amendment, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to lawyers in Abbottabad, Chief Justice Iftikhar said Pakistan’s Constitution demanded a democratic system in the country.

He added that after religious texts, the Constitution was the most sacred document in the lives of nations.

Therefore, observance and protection of the Constitution was mandatory for every individual whether or not they had taken an oath to safeguard it.

Chief Justice Iftikhar moreover said that the previous parliament had supported the attack on the judiciary on Nov 3, 2007.

The current parliament deserved praise for invalidating, through the 18th Amendment, the measures taken by the former military ruler.

He added that the people in the current parliament were praiseworthy.

He also referred to the lawyers' movement for the reinstatement of the deposed judges and said the lawyers had waged a commendable struggle to uphold the country's Constitution and its laws.

The chief justice said the people of Pakistan were prepared to make every sacrifice for justice.