CJ for safeguard of fundamental rights of innocent persons
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry headed a delegation of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to participate in the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Indian Law Institute.
He was specially invited by the Indian Chief Justice, Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal on this occasion. The Chief Justice of Pakistan, read a paper on the topic “Terrorism and the Criminal Justice System”, “Criminal Justice Under Stress: Transnational Perspectives” on the International Conference arranged by the Indian Law Institutes on this occasion.
The Conference was inaugurated by Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India. The Conference was attended by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Chief Justice of Canada and Chief Justice of India, and some of the other countries. In this presentation, the Chief Justice of Pakistan underscored the need for global consensus to arrive at the suitable definition of terrorism.
He elaborated that for dealing with the International Crime of Terrorism, it is essential that the vital elements of the said definition of the crime is agreed upon. He emphasized with a view to avoid the abuse or misuse of the legal or judicial process. It is also necessary to safeguard the fundamental rights of innocent persons.
Enumerating the various International consensus on combating terrorism and putting the perpetrators of this international crime on trial, he stressed upon the need international cooperation and mutual judicial assistance to effectively decrease problems faced in extradition of the offenders from one country to another, to ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are given a fair trial and awarded due punishments, in keeping with the circumstances of the case and severity of the offence.
He added that much as deterrent punishments are required for the most abominable crime like terrorism, which targets innocent civilians, there is also a greater need to address the rout causes and factors responsible for terrorism. He said that mere punishments may suppress momentarily the symptoms of malady or disease, but would never eliminate or eradicate it, unless the rout causes thereof are addressed and resolved. He, particularly, explained the scenario of trial of terrorism cases by the judiciary in Pakistan and stated that he is generally satisfied with the performance of the courts in rendering timely decisions.
He added that terrorism is both national as well international phenomenon. It has no religion and knows no boundaries. The whole of the world is in the grip of the terrorism. No region or country is safe. Terrorism in all its forms, political struggle, national liberation movement, tribal rivalries and sectarian conflicts, ethnicity and cross border afflicts the region. It taxes the poor nation heavily. It impedes their already slow pace of development. It requires deeper analyst. It calls for a multidimensional approach and strategy.