‘We absolutely do not agree to work under someone’s pressure’: CJP Gulzar rubbishes allegations

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed on Saturday denied that the judiciary was being influenced by or taking dictation from other institutions.

The CJP was responding to comments made by former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Ali Ahmad Kurd, earlier during the Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore.

“One general is dominating a country of 220 million people. This same general has sent the judiciary down to number 126 [in rankings],” said Kurd.

Kurd, in his speech, said that there was a “clear and observable division” within the judiciary, adding that the “country’s intellectual class was finished and because there is no intellectual class, people of small stature are sitting at the top.”

“I have not taken the pressure of any institution or listened to any institution. No one tells me or guides me on how to write my verdict. I have never made any decision that I did so on someone else’s saying, nor has anyone had the courage to say anything to me,” responded CJP Gulzar to Kurd’s statement.

“I have never listened, seen, understood, or felt anyone’s dictation to me,” he added.

“My court gives justice to the people. Come to the court, Ali Ahmad Kurd, and see what is happening. Read the court’s decision and see what is happening. My judges write judgments every day […] see how our court is working with freedom and following the law and implementing the Constitution.”

Justice Gulzar said the courts were free to decide whatever they wanted to do and did so routinely. “Tell me which case was decided on whose dictation till today,” he said as he advised Kurd to “not tell wrong things to people, create discord and lift the people’s trust from the institutions.”