Challenging verdicts threatens Supreme Court

Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz Hussain has said that the existence of the Supreme Court is threatened when its verdicts are repeatedly challenged by state authorities.

The chief justice said this in a statement issued today regarding the Supreme Court verdict on the contempt of court case against the members of the Elections Commission.

He referred to statements issued by some foreign groups including the U.S. State Department on the matter, and said that foreign states and organisations do not have the right to claim that the Supreme Court verdict undermined the independence of the Elections Commission.

“The fact that the few authorities responsible for the running of the state repeatedly challenge the verdicts issued by the Supreme Court and disrespect the Supreme Court, undoubtedly destroys people’s confidence in and respect for one of the powers of the state, and encourages the elimination of the existence of the Supreme Court.”

Faiz acknowledged that the constitutional and political systems of the country are in need of reform, and said that challenging the courts and their verdicts in the guise of efforts to reform the judiciary, however, threatens the constitution.