Chief Justice of Pakistan Affirms Democracy as a Fundamental Right in Political Landscape

In a significant statement, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa asserted on Friday that democracy stands as a fundamental right, extending its significance to both the national framework and within political parties.

CJP Isa emphasized that every citizen holds the inherent right to cast their vote for a political party of their choice, a privilege that extends to every member within a political party. He underlined the pivotal role of this right, stating that any infringement upon it could lead to a perilous shift towards “dictatorship on the national and local level.”

These remarks were made during a session of a three-member Supreme Court bench, presided over by CJP Qazi Faez Isa, alongside Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali. The bench was convened to address the petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), challenging the decision of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to reinstate the iconic ‘bat’ election symbol of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Notably, the proceedings were broadcast live on the Supreme Court’s official website, ensuring transparency and accessibility to the public.