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Thursday March 28, 2024

No appropriate laws made to curb corruption: CJ

Says country faces loss of billions of rupees; stresses need for removal of gap between public and state; police order not enforced properly; Rabbani says legal framework, PCOs defaced Constitution

By our correspondents
September 06, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja on Saturday said the prevailing gap between the citizens and the state can only be removed when the enforcement of the law and Constitution are ensured in true spirit and with full commitment.
“This is the only way where citizens of the country can be ensured their legal rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” the chief justice said while addressing the participants of the Lecture and Automation Exhibition organised by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan here at the Supreme Court.
“If we want to steer the country out of its prevailing crisis and problems, we will have to sincerely think about taking drastic steps to remove the gap between the public and the state,” he said.
The chief justice said although organisations exist in the law but the performance of these organisations is not up to the mark that could ensure the eradication of corruption. He said the state and its institutions are created for the masses who have minimum access to these institutions. He said it is not any kind of favour but the right of citizens that they should be provided with the best facilities.
The chief justice said everyone is well aware of the fact that corruption is the only cancer that has weakened the roots of the state, however, no appropriate legislation or strategies have been adopted so far for resolving the glaring issue of corruption and as a result the country faced loss of billions of rupees.
On the other hand, the chief justice said, laws are not enforced in letter and spirit while the supremacy of the Constitution has also been affected. He said the people are not getting justice on the basis of equality and the downtrodden class is continuously suffering the most, while the richer and upper class gets richer.
“As we have a living document in the shape of a Constitution, hence it is mandatory for us to read and understand it,” Justice Jawwad said. He said the enforcement of the provisions of the Constitution is inevitable in view of the day to day changing circumstances. He regretted that the police order was not enforced effectively.
Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani in his address said that the legal framework and PCOs had defaced the Constitution. This was the first time that courts have not approved an emergency and martial law imposed by a dictator.
He said NAB as an institution is not independent and its law is defective. The powerful accused escape accountability through plea bargains, he said.
He called for an effective role for NAB, the FIA and the Anti-Corruption Establishment in the elimination of corruption.