KARACHI, April 26: Lawyer fraternity continued its protest campaign on Thursday with more members observing token hunger strike and most members of all bar associations boycotting court proceedings to press the government to withdraw the presidential reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and restore independence of judiciary.
The Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) and Malir Bar Association (MBA) boycotted proceedings of the respective courts for one hour.
Three members of the SHCBA, Nisar A. Mujahid, Habibur Rehman and Naushad Ali Memon, observed token hunger strike. Advocate Sharifuddin Pirzada’s portrait was removed from the SHCBA office as resolved by its general body. The office displays portraits of SHCBA presidents and Mr Pirzada held the office in 1964-65.
Senior lawyer Azizullah K. Shaikh has, meanwhile, described the protest campaign as ‘historic’ because of its duration and intensity. He recalled the first inquiry into misconduct was held against Justice Hassanally Agha of the Sindh Chief Court by Sir Abdul Rashid, chief justice of the Federal Court, and another judge of the then apex court. The allegation was that Justice Agha favoured his lawyer son with a stay order. The inquiry was held by the CJ behind closed doors and Justice Agha was exonerated.
At the City Courts, eight women members of the KBA observed a token hunger strike. They were Riffat Nasim Naz, Mahra Aslam, Shagufta Kanwal, Aziza Bhatti, Miss Shahida Haq, Ms Saeeda and Husan Kiran.
Four members of the MBA, Asadullah Memon, Khuda Bakhsh Mehar, Haji Khan Mashori and Quaimuddin Khwaja, observed the token hunger strike at Malir District Court.
The Karachi Bar Association held its general body meeting where all members were asked to participate in the May 2 procession to be taken out on the occasion of the CJP’s eighth appearance before the Supreme Judicial Council for the hearing of the presidential reference against him.
Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Sindh Bar Council Aaqil Lodhi presented a resolution at the meeting calling on the Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association to cancel the basic membership of Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Wasim Sajjad, Khalid Ranja and Malik Qayum for supporting the presidential reference.
The general body unanimously adopted the resolution, according to a statement.
KBA President Iftikhar Javaid Qazi, speaking on the occasion, said that for the first time KBA was appealing to all its registered members, stated to be around 9000, to ensure their participation in the May 2 procession to demonstrate that the lawyer fraternity fully supported independence of judiciary and totally rejected the filing of presidential reference against the CJP with one voice.
He expressed dismay over the irresponsible attitude of a handful of lawyers for not taking the campaign seriously. He told KBA members that it was for the first time in six decades, that the entire nation had taken a united stand to defend the independence of judiciary and strengthening of democracy in the country. “It is, therefore, duty of all citizens to actively support the campaign in order to get rid of the military dictatorship.” Lawyers being more educated and having greater awareness of governance and democracy, bore greater responsibility in this regard, he added, and called for playing active role in making the campaign a success which would also add another chapter to the judiciary’s history.
He appreciated the role of the women lawyers, and said that once the judiciary was liberated from the clutches of the dictators, everyone would have easy access to justice. He criticised the government for spending heavily from the national exchequer on the establishment of the GHQ and caring less for the country’s majority, the downtrodden.
KBA General Secretary Naeem Qureshi told the general body that struggle of over 80,000 lawyers across the country would definitely bear fruit and the nation would succeed in get rid of the military dictatorship. He paid rich tribute to the strength of the CJP, saying he did not bow to the military rulers’ pressure and chose to face the reference.
He announced that KBA’s managing committee and general body would meet on April 30 to finalise the programme for May 2 procession in the city.
Amir Niaz Khan, K.K. Javaid, Hafeez Baloch, Khalil Dogar, Saeed Qureshi, Sharif Shaikh and Riffat Naz also spoke on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Sindh National Front leader advocate Hasan Mahmood Jaffari has condemned the alleged irresponsible remarks by PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain against lawyer fraternity and said that no one, including the military rulers, were above the law. He said lawyers had the right to criticise those working against the interests of the country and the Constitution. He said Chaudhry Shajaat was also a product of martial law and, as such, he was not aware of the democratic norms.
