PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Friday asserted that the Supreme Court has authority to examine irregularities of government and its departments and to prevent abuse of power.

Addressing the National Judicial Conference here at the Supreme Court building, the CJP said: “We are accountable before Allah Almighty and the nation.”

Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the judiciary’s duty is not in clash with the executive and the administration and the Parliament should carry out legislation in light of the powers laid out in the Constitution.

“The democratic set up should have a mechanism of check and balance and the judiciary must distance itself from political process and function in an honest manner,” he stressed.

He said some of the law institutions are not imparting standard education and directed judges to dispose of cases within stipulated time. Cases of women, elderly and weak be settled on priority basis, the CJP directed.