He was presiding over a seminar organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association on the subject "Separation of Powers and Independence of Judiciary in the Supreme Court Auditorium here on Saturday night.
He said that the legislature, the judiciary and the executive are not rivals, they are neither dependent nor any one of them is superior to others, but in the performance of their functions they supplement to each other to further the objectives of the polity and welfare of the people.
Justice Iftikhar said that the Constitution provides the system of check and balance and separation of powers so that there is no centralisation of power in one hand.
He quoted the famous saying " the power corrupts and the absolute power corrupts absolutely" and said that it is duty of the courts to see to it that affairs of the State are run in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
He said the Article 175 of the Constitution ensures separation of judiciary from the Executive so that courts could perform their functions independently without outside pressures.
He said as a judge and the chief justice of Pakistan he has tried to strengthen the Supreme Court, higher and lower courts since a strong and vibrant judiciary can effectively protect fundamental rights of the people, which include security of person, inviolability of man's dignity, equality of citizens.
He said that an independent judiciary not only helps reduce poverty in the country but also enhances a country's respect in the eyes of the comity of nations.
Justice Iftikhar said in the performance of functions of his office as the Chief Justice of Pakistan he had full co-operation of his brother judges and members of the bar.
He said he has always maintained that a vigilant and strong bar is a guarantee for the protection of fundamental rights of the citizens and rule of law in the country. He thanked the Supreme Court Bar Association for inviting him to preside over the seminar
Earlier, President Supreme Court Bar Association, Munir A. Malik, Vice Chairman Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig, former VC Ali Ahmad Kurd, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan Hamid Khan, Rashid A. Rizvi, Abrarul Hassan, President Sindh High Court Bar Association also addressed the seminar.
They pledged that they would continue their movement for the independence of judiciary and withdrawal of reference against the chief justice till success. The participants of the seminar who had come from all over the country offered Fateha for those killed in the 12May mayhem in Karachi.