12 October 2004	Tuesday	26 Shaban 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: Vice-Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Rasheed A. Razvi on Monday condemned the introduction of the bill 'President to Hold Another Office Act 2004' on the floor of the National Assembly and alleged that the act amounted to 'destruction' of the 1973 Constitution.

"In my considered view this is another attempt to deface the Constitution by Gen Pervez Musharraf in the same manner as it was done by two earlier army generals in their respective military rules," the vice-chairman said in a statement.

It is very unfortunate that in Pakistan instead of strengthening the legal system laws are made and changed for one particular person, he said. Mr Razvi also appealed to the legal fraternity to observe 'Black Day' on Tuesday (October 12) in pursuance of the call of All Pakistan Representative Lawyers meeting held in Lahore on October 2.

The present regime has admitted the fact that Gen Musharraf cannot hold two offices, therefore in order to overcome this constitutional bar, the government has introduced this new bill, he regretted.

The Constitution cannot be amended by sub-constitutional legislation and the Constitution being a supreme law takes precedence over and above all other laws of the country, he said.

Interestingly, this new law provides that it should be valid only for the present holder of the office of president which means that it has been tailored for Gen Musharraf.

About black day, the vice-chairman issued letters to the presidents of all high courts, district and tehsil bar associations and requested them to hoist black flags on the buildings of the bars, wear black arm bands and hold protest meetings in bar rooms.

Mr Razvi asked the representative bodies to circulate the letter among members and display it on the notice board of each bar association. The bodies should convene and hold protest meetings on the day to condemn and protest army take over five years ago, the letter said.