"All 17 judges of Supreme Court will leave with me if anyone attacks democracy", says Chief Justice

Chief Justice Mian Saquib Nisar has said only democracy can prevail in Pakistan and judiciary will not allow any extra-constitutional step.

He was addressing a special ceremony to mark the 80th death anniversary of national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal in Lahore on Saturday.

He reiterated that there is no legal provision in the Constitution that allows for “judicial martial law".

“I have said earlier that I will resign from my office if any attempt of martial law is made, today, I am telling you that all 17 judges of the SC will leave with me if anyone attacks democracy,” the Chief Justice of Pakistan said.

Pakistan Today reported that the Chief Justice said education is the fundamental right of the people and it is the duty of the government to ensure all people to have equal access to it.

“Mr. Arif Nizami has called me an ‘Awami Chief Justice’” he said referring to the comments made by the Aiwan e Iqbal Complex Chairman and Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami on the occasion, “but I am not doing any of this for populism or approval but because it is my duty,” he added.

The chief justice went on to say that the country was currently facing the problems it was because of its continued lag in education, health and the slowness of the judicial system itself.

Justice Saquib Nisar said, “Education is of prime importance to me. The world has Oxford University, and here we see 80 Kanal area of Punjab University being handed over to the government for a grid station.” The CJP said that right to education is essential and should be given to everyone.

“It is the right of my nation to demand education. Health is important for life,” said the chief justice.

“We will fight for your [the people] rights until the day we feel that we no longer have your support, and that day we will gladly and willingly leave our office,” he said.