ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry sees a new Pakistan emerging as “old structures are crumbling and past demons of extra-constitutional deviations are being exterminated one by one”.

“In today’s Pakistan independent judiciary duly supported by the media and civil society has come up with landmark judgments, with only one baseline: all and sundry are to follow rule of law and there is no immunity for anyone come what may,” he said at a roll-signing ceremony at the Supreme Court building.

Lawyers who signed the roll would now be able to practice in the apex court as advocates.

The chief justice said the country had witnessed unprecedented changes in the wake of the lawyers’ movement. It had led to a healthy debate about the need for breaking old habits that ensured that expediencies held sway over rule of law and supremacy of Constitution.

“It is high time that this change in our constitutional and political history is accepted by all without any ifs and buts,” he remarked.

“We have learned from history that no country can realise the dream of progress and prosperity without following the route of rule of law and supremacy of Constitution.

“The earlier we imbibe this message in the lifeblood of our existence, the sooner we will reach the ‘promised land’,” he said.

“The profession of law is a noble job because its practitioners are responsible for administration of justice and have to behave like an epitome of rule of law and incarnation of supremacy of the Constitution,” he said.

Chief Justice Chaudhry said the lawyers’ fraternity generally and the institution of judiciary particularly had gained respect from the people of Pakistan and even beyond.

To uphold this respect and honour, both the bench and the bar should leave no stone unturned to provide services to the people who knocked at the door of judiciary at any level, he said.