HYDERABAD, April 5: Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has said that the role of judiciary in the system of administration of justice is of prime importance but the whole range of authorities and institutions, including the executive and the legislature, have to render auxiliary contribution for the fair dispensation of justice.

He was addressing students and faculty of the Sindh Law College here on Friday evening.

He said that the principle of trichotomy of powers envisaged in the 1973 constitution was aimed at creating an atmosphere of harmony and collaboration among all state institutions in order to ensure delivery of justice to all.He said that the judiciary has been specifically invested with the powers of judicial review in order to check constitutional development of the justice system and the protection of fundamental rights.

“I feel pride in mentioning that in the recent years, judiciary has successfully emerged as a true saviour and protector of constitutional supremacy and fundamental rights,” he said, adding that judicial activism on the part of the Supreme Court had not only ameliorated the justice system as a whole, but also enhanced public trust and confidence in the judicial institution.

“Law is a noble profession and lawyers are the most vocal dissenters against injustice,” he observed, and said that law as a profession in any jurisdiction was highly challenging and demanded utmost commitment on the part of lawyers.

Justice Chaudhry said that lawyers’ movement in the aftermath of the 2007 emergency was in fact the movement for the independence of judiciary and rule of law.

He commended the role of lawyers for the restoration of constitution and rule of law which, he said, resulted in the restoration of de jure judiciary in 2009 and foreclosed future extra-constitutional regimes in the country.

“As you people are young and have to set a future roadmap for the prevalence of democratic rule and supremacy of the constitution, I would like to advise all of you to study the leading judgments of the superior courts interpreting various provisions of the constitution and the law, so as to acquaint yourselves with the role of superior courts in protecting the fundamental rights of citizens and the constitutional development of Pakistan,” he said.

The chief justice stated that law regulated almost all aspects of lives and it was of direct interest to everyone. “Law provides the framework within which a society operates and let me assure you that for the formation of an egalitarian society, the establishment of rule of law and supremacy of the constitution are essential.

He asked law students to try hard to acquire an in-depth understanding of law and jurisprudence. “You should also develop good communication skills and the ability to construct clear and well-reasoned arguments. Moreover, you should try to analyse laws logically and critically and find out ways to fill legal lacunae after doing extensive legal research, he stressed.

He said that young lawyers were a crucial segment of society who would prove to be the true leaders of democracy in future and upholders of constitutional norms.

He thanked the Sindh Law College Hyderabad principal for inviting him to the occasion, and said that the college was a centre of knowledge and higher learning which was imparting quality education to its students.

He said he himself did his Bachelors in Law from this institution.

The chief justice also launched the ‘Law Magazine’ at the college and visited various classrooms.