Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that the powers of the Federal Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court are defined in the Constitution and there should be no ambiguity regarding the jurisdiction of the courts. The establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court under the 27th Constitutional Amendment is aimed at concentrating the interpretation of constitutional cases at a specific forum and ensuring uniformity in judicial interpretations. The constitutional mechanism regarding the establishment and jurisdiction of the Federal Constitutional Court has been clearly defined.
Addressing a ceremony on the invitation of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, Rawalpindi Bench, here on Thursday, the Federal Minister said that the principle of equal representation of the provinces has been adopted in the Federal Constitutional Court, while the constitutional framework regarding constitutional cases falling within its jurisdiction and their interpretation is also clear. He said making the decisions of the Federal Constitutional Court applicable to all relevant courts is aimed at maintaining the rule of law and judicial uniformity.
He said Pakistan is a federation where different provinces have their own specific social, cultural and regional circumstances; therefore, appropriate representation of the federating units in the judicial system is important.
Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that through an amendment in the law, Bar Associations have also been included, along with Bar Councils, in the ambit of government support. He said the federal government has increased the grant allocated for Bar Councils and Bar Associations.
He also appreciated the increase in grants by the Punjab Government for Bar Councils and Bar Associations.
Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, referring to the Lawyers Protection Act, said that rules have also been framed following the enactment of the law. He said effective implementation of the law remains among his priorities and significant progress has been made in this regard.
He referred to the problems arising from the unregulated growth of private law colleges and said that improving the quality of legal education and introducing an effective assessment system for entry into the profession are essential.
The Federal Minister said that the process of legal reforms was initiated after 2015, the effects of which would become more evident in the coming years.
He described the increasing participation of women in the legal profession as a positive development, saying that women lawyers are now an important and active part of the legal community.
The Federal Minister urged lawyers not to allow political differences to override their professional responsibilities, saying that safeguarding professional standards and dignity is a collective responsibility.
President of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, Rawalpindi Bench, Saeed Yousaf Khan, and Secretary General Qasim Mahmood Malik also addressed the ceremony.
Earlier, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar received a warm welcome upon his arrival at the Lahore High Court Bar, Rawalpindi. The Federal Minister also inaugurated two bar rooms of the High Court Bar.
