Source/Credit: Associated Press of Pakistan
By APP | London | November 21, 2010
The newly elected President, Supreme Court Bar Association, Asma Jahangir has suggested trying all Blasphemy related cases in the High Courts for better transparency and avoiding any ambiguities.
Speaking at meet-the-press programme of the UK-based Pakistan Journalists Association here last evening, the leading international human rights activist said it had been generally felt that blasphemy laws had been misused for wrong reasons and have caused negative impression about the country abroad.
Furthermore, she stated that all cases relating to blasphemy must be investigated by superior Police officials and those found filing cases for wrong reasons ought to be punished as well.
Ms.Jahangir also suggested constitution of a committee to discuss and debate all aspects of blasphemy laws.
She praised the legal community for its role in judicial activism but said the lawyers cannot stage long marches for implementation of every legal decisions.
According to her “Bar should work with higher judiciary but keep its distance as well.” At the same time she added that SCBA cannot act as “a go between” Government and the apex judiciary.
“We want to remain in partnership but keeping within rules of law and constitutionalism.”
Responding to a question, the SCBA President said reforming judiciary will take a long time and complete impartiality of both Supreme Court and the High Courts was imperative.
At the same time, she called for improvement in subordinate judiciary through better pay packages and working conditions. Opposing capital punishment, Ms.Jahangir urged moratorium on 7500 prisoners in death cells and said their sentences be turned into life imprisonments.
Answering another question, she said the present Government has taken a number of good decisions such as passage of 18th Amendment, the National Finance Award, empowering the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and the Baluchistan package.
However, she was of the view that the transition to democracy had not come up to the expectation of the people as Pakistan continue to face huge challenges.
Terming the appointment of judges as central to the independence of judiciary, the SCBA President said consultation in this regard ought to be across the party lines. She further said the Bar associations have always received grants from the governments but they should not become its mouth pieces.
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