Asma Jahangir calls for stronger judicial system

HYDERABAD: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s (HRCP) former chairperson and lawyer Asma Jahangir has said that she will be the first one to raise her voice against the country’s bar associations if they act against the executive judiciary.

“If we need time to bring about reforms in the judiciary, then we also need time to establish a new democratic system,” said Jahangir, while addressing lawyers at the Sindh High Court bar on Friday. However, this does not mean that the government can be allowed to indulge in corrupt ways without any checks and balances, she said, warning that protests will be held to condemn any insults thrown at lawyers by judges in courtrooms.

The judiciary must maintain a standard, said Jahangir, who added that lawyers need to raise their voice against bad governance, regardless of who is in charge.

Matters between the lawyers, the judiciary and the government have become complicated, which is why bars and courts should run the democratic system by coming together, said Jahangir, who was of the belief that the process of democracy cannot move forward if it is not backed by an unbiased judicial system.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2010.