LAHORE, Nov 5: Bar leaders have cautioned the Supreme Court in respect of any action against the SC Bar Association president as it would affect its reputation and result in a confrontation between the bench and the bar.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Hall of the Lahore High Court Bar Association here on Tuesday, the bar leaders said that they were concerned about the reports that the apex court intended to withdraw the status of senior advocate conferred on him by its former chief justice on the basis of the statement made by him for the withdrawal of a constitutional petition recently.

They said that the lawyers community had great respect for Mr.Hamid Khan for his struggle for revival of democracy and the firm stand taken by him on principles. He could not be deprived of his honour and dignity by withdrawing the title of senior advocate.

They said that the bar had no political motives and had always proved that it wanted no tussle with the bench. The apex court should not take any action against Hamid Khan as it would strain the relations between the bar and the bench.

They said that three-year extension in the retirement age of the judges of the superior courts was the real issue. The bar felt that judges should decline the increase in age because it appeared that the government had given them extra three years in return for three years’ right to rule given to it by the apex court in 1999.

They also expressed concern over the reports that the government wanted the judges to take oath under the Legal Framework Order and said that the judges should refuse to take oath under the LFO as it would be an insult to the judiciary.

Lahore High Court Bar Association president Chaudhry Muzammal Khan, Supreme Court Bar Association secretary Sahibzada Anwar Hamid, LHCBA secretary Shahid Mahmood Bhatti, vice-president Khawar Ikram Bhatti and Pakistan and Punjab Bar Council members Hafiz Abdul Rehman Ansari, Pir Kalim Khurshid, Muhammad Kazim Khan, Khadim Husain Qaiser, Ziaulllah Khan and Tanvir Mahmood Chaudhry also spoke.