ISLAMABAD: "The Constitution is supreme. All state institutions should fulfill their responsibilities according to the law," said Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar during a full-court reference held at the Supreme Court on Monday to mark the start of the new judicial year.

The CJP said justice can be delivered by rule of law and supremacy of Constitution. "For establishing a rule of law it is essential that democracy be safeguarded," he said further. 

Justice Nisar reiterated that judges need to be free of all sorts of influence. 

CJP Justice Mian Saqib Nisar

"The judiciary dispenses justice according to the law and protects basic rights. If any authority or state institution violates the Constitution then the judiciary has the power to review it. Injustice leads to chaos and anarchy, thus it is essential to ensure rule of law," noted Justice Nisar. 

The CJP informed that the apex court?s human rights cell decided 29,657 complaints in the previous judicial year, saying that this provided relief to those affected. He said the court took suo motu notices on reports of violation of basic human rights.

In his speech at the reference, Supreme Court Bar Association President Rasheed Rizvi said the responsibility of fighting corruption rests with the judiciary. 

"The sanctity of vote is linked with the elected official?s honesty," he said adding that sanctity of vote cannot be used as a defence in a criminal case. 

He was referring to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's review petition in the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case. Sharif was disqualified from holding public office as a result of the Supreme Court judgment on July 28.