ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Monday said that Constitution is sacred and his court is its protector, expressing hope that the leadership of the country will respect the court decisions.
He delivered these remarks while hearing the presidential reference seeking interpretation of Article 63-A.
A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by the chief justice, heard the case.
The top judge’s remarks clearly betrayed the court’s uneasiness over its recent verdict on the National Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling which declared the no-confidence vote block illegal and set the path for the removal of the former prime minister, Imran Khan.
The judgement was criticised by supporters and activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on social media and at public rallies.
While hearing the presidential reference, Justice Bandial remarked that the court was the protector of the Constitution as “Constitution is sacred”.
He expressed his hope that the country’s leadership would respect the court’s decisions. He regretted that “our names are called when we protect the constitution”.
He, however, vowed that court would go on performing their constitutional responsibilities and would defend constitution.
Taking a jibe at the speeches in political gatherings, the judge remarked that 10,000 to 15,000 people gathered at a place and started criticising court decisions. Why should we make decisions anyway, the CJP wondered but prodded the leadership on the matter saying they should respect the court decisions.
“National leaders should defend the court decisions,” Justice Bandial said. He said judges had to bear slights for protecting the Constitution.
Addressing the attorney, he said: “Court sees no reason to get entangled in your political issues”.
At the outset of the hearing, Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman pleaded with the court to wait for the appointment of a new attorney general. But the judge said that since the arguments of the former AGP Khalid Jawed Khan had been completed, in his opinion, the proceedings on the case could be carried on.
