LAHORE, Feb 9: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry says the Supreme Court being custodian of the Constitution has jurisdiction to review the legitimacy of government’s actions.

The CJP was speaking at 27th Roll Signing ceremony at Supreme Court’s Lahore registry on Saturday.

Two female and 35 male advocates were formally granted licences to plead before the apex court.

Justice Chaudhry said Pakistan was facing hard challenges like law and order situation and executive, legislature and judiciary were to play their role to curb the evils of terrorism, disappearance of citizens and extra-judicial killings.

He pointed out that the rule of law was a decisive factor for transforming a barbaric society into a civilised one and every institution of the country had to recognise and respect constitutional norms to secure democratic governance and rule of law.

The CJP said it was the need of the hour that all the state organs should work collectively to protect fundamental rights of the people. He said the judiciary had always tried to deliver its best while adjudicating in accordance with the existing laws.

He said independence of justice was vital for promotion of rule of law. He lamented the target killing of lawyers.

The CJP congratulated the newly-enrolled lawyers of Supreme Court and asked them to adhere to norms of integrity and professionalism.