ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Friday said Armed forces in Pakistan play very important role and are held in high esteem as they lay down their lives for national cause of the country.

He said Armed forces are also regulated under constitutional provisions and are called to act in aid of civilian democratic institutions under special circumstances like flood, earthquakes etc. He said this while talking to a 49-member delegation of Command and Staff College Quetta headed by Lt Colonel, Hashim Iqbal Bajwa, Directing Staff, and comprising course participants from military bureaucracy of 20 friendly countries, who called on him here at the Supreme Court as a part of their study tour.

Welcoming the delegation, the CJP gave them an overview of the Constitution of 1973 of Pakistan. He informed them about the trichotomy of power in Pakistan, functions and importance of each organ of the State i.e. Parliament, Executive and Judiciary.

The Chief Justice briefed them on the judicial system, its functioning, role, dispensation of justice and constitutional jurisdiction of Supreme Court, High Courts and District Courts to provide relief to the people. He explained that Supreme Court, under constitutional scheme, possesses special jurisdiction of the judicial review to examine certain acts of legislative and executive organs of the State on criterion provided in the Constitution.

The CJP told them about the fundamental rights enunciated in the Constitution. He also informed the delegation about 25th Constitutional amendment that ensured rule of law in newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Later, he answered the questions of the participants in an interactive session. The delegation presented a shield to the Chief Justice as token of remembrance and gesture of goodwill. The Chief Justice reciprocated the same by presenting a shield to them.