Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Monday said that he was a “defender” of the Constitution and that if he failed to defend the charter, people have a right to critique him.
Addressing a special session at the National Assembly in honour of the 50th anniversary of the Constitution on Monday, the Supreme Court judge said that the country’s charter gave people the freedom of speech and allowed for the freedom of the press.
“I want to say on behalf of my institution that we are defenders of the Constitution… I too have taken the oath to protect the Constitution and uphold it. Should I fail to do so, you have the right to criticise me.” During the session, Justice Isa said — on the behalf of the Supreme Court — that the apex court “stood by the Constitution”.
“After God, we are under the protection of the Constitution,” he said. He further exalted the country’s charter and said: “This book is the identity of Pakistan and its people.”
“As you are experts in politics, the law is my field,” he said. “You can comment and criticize when you deem it right as you have done, and that critique was heard.” The justice also spoke on the role of the three estates of the country in maintaining a balance in the way things were run.
