Qazi Isa says truth is our salvation in all circumstances

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has said that truth is our salvation and the goal for every citizen should be truth, whether they agree with someone or not, reported the 24NewsHd TV channel.

Addressing a workshop held in Islamabad on Saturday for journalists reporting on the higher judiciary, the CJP said that institutions were obliged to allow citizens to have access to details.

Qazi stated that before he assumed the charge as the CJP, no full court meetings were held in the past four years.

 "Now court proceedings are shown live to improve the credibility of the court's proceedings," he said.

He said that access to information is a constitutional right of every citizen, and it is not just a matter of the court's will.

“It is the only way to ensure accountability in society.”

He continued that the public receives information only through court reporters as he highlighted Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution, which refer to the freedom of speech and access to information respectively.

Qazi further said that the Supreme Court was also subject to Article 19A of the Constitution.

Speaking of a petition filed by a private citizen seeking details of Supreme Court (SC) employees, the chief justice stated that the apex court ordered its registrar to provide all the details within seven days.

“The institutions under the federal government must give citizens access to information. Not bound by law, but by the Constitution, the SC ordered to give the required details to the petitioner,” said CJP Isa.

He added that the apex court uploads all its important verdicts on its website, which can be accessed by anyone. No citizen can be questioned on demanding information, the CJP maintained.

Justice Isa asserted that the process of accountability will begin only when the citizens of this nation have complete access to information.

The CJP said that a female district and sessions judge was appointed as the SC registrar, also for the first time.

He told the gathering that a committee was working to nominate judges for the judicial commission, adding that the goal was to appoint good judges who understood the law well.

“Judges should not look at each other with suspicion, but understand that they have also come to lend a hand,” CJP Isa said, adding that efforts were being made to run the Supreme Judicial Council properly.

The CJP further said that the way to change the destiny of a country is to improve the quality of educational institutions.

“In the Syndicate meeting of the Quaid-e-Azam University, it was ordered to restore student unions,” he revealed.

The CJP also said that important cases were being broadcast live so that people understood and raised questions. “People have the right to disagree,” he added.

At the event, the CJP released the three-month performance report of the judiciary.

“The SC for the first time released its first quarterly report on its website, which revealed that the number of cases to be disposed of was higher than registered ones,” he said, adding that a total of 4,466 cases were registered against 5,305 of the ones completed.

“The effort is to settle more cases in less time, CJP Isa said, adding that this week, 504 cases were settled and 335 new cases filed.”

 “What could have been a better opportunity than this for us to start our accountability in front of journalists,” the CJP remarked, adding that information about the judiciary reached the public only through journalists.

He said two clauses of the Constitution related to the day's ceremony were important, adding that Article 19 mentioned freedom of the press, while the second clause, Article 19A, was about the fundamental right of access to information.

 "As a citizen, it is your right to get any information," he maintained, adding, "Now it is not our will."

 He further said that it was the duty of the institutions subordinate to the federal government to provide any information demanded. "Every citizen can get information from the website of the Supreme Court.