April 29, 2007	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 11, 1428

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

RAWALPINDI, April 28: The District Bar Association (DBA) here on Saturday condemned the attack on one of their colleagues by uniformed men in Rawalpindi and the detention of senior Supreme Court lawyer Ali Ahmed Kurd in Quetta.

Holding an emergency session on the DBA premises, a large number of lawyers condemned the Friday night beating of Ghulam Mustafa Kundwal advocate.

The lawyer was left unconscious in a ditch near Moti Mahal while his car was also completely damaged.

The DBA members constituted a fund to purchase a new car for Mr Kundwal.

It may be recalled here that Mr Kundwal was nominated in an FIR lodged by Arif Chaudhry advocate and Khalid Ranjha advocate after some lawyers attacked them on April 13 as the Supreme Judicial Council heard the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Later, the lawyers came out of the court complex and gathered at Kutchery Chowk and blocked the busy intersection for more than two hours. They were demanding immediate registration of an FIR and the arrest of attackers.

While protesting, the lawyers learnt that Pakistan Bar Council Vice-President Ali Ahmed Kurd had been detained at the district courts Quetta. Enraged by the move, they raised anti- government slogans and condemn the action.

Speakers at the protest said they would not bow to the intimidating tactics of the government and every lawyer was ready to sacrifice his life for the independence of the judiciary.

The lawyers vowed to continue their protest till the chief justice was reinstated and the “mala fide” presidential reference was withdrawn.

They went back to the courts after City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Murwat Ali Shah assured the DBA members that lawful action would be taken against the culprits. The officer said he was in touch with his high-ups and soon an FIR would be lodged against the perpetrators.

Our Reporter from Islamabad adds: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) along with the Islamabad Bar Association Saturday condemned the detention of its vice-chairman Ali Ahmed Kurd by the Quetta police and an attempt on the life of Rawalpindi Bar Association member Ghulam Mustafa.

Ali Ahmed Kurd is one of the lawyers representing Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry before the Supreme Judicial Council hearing a presidential reference against him.

In a joint statement, PBC Executive Committee of Chairman Qazi Mohammad Anwar and members Hamid Khan, Syed Qalbe Hassan, Rasheed A. Razvi, Mohammad Yousaf Leghari, Imdad Awan and Mohammad Kazim Khan termed it a coward attempt by the government to harass the lawyers for their struggle for the independence of judiciary and the rule of law.

They said the government was mistaken that lawyers would forego their struggle because of such actions and threats.

“The lawyers instead, will continue with their ongoing movement for independence of judiciary and the rule of law more vigorously,” the statement said.

They warned the government not to disrupt the lawyers movement and demanded that the “mala fide” reference against the chief justice of Pakistan be immediately withdrawn to save the judiciary in the larger interest of the country.

The PBC and Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) also passed a resolution in this regard.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the IBA general body condemned the detention of Ali Ahmed Kurd and said such tactics showed that the government was in a state of panic.

The lawyers said the government was trying to press them through use of power but it would fail to do so. Our struggle is for the supremacy of constitution and judiciary not for our personal interest, they added.

The resolution passed by the lawyers also condemned an attempt on the life of Advocate Ghulam Mustafa saying this was an attempt to sabotage lawyers’ movement.

Later, the lawyers completed a round of the courts and raised slogans in favour of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

The lawyers of Attock also observed a complete strike here on Saturday to condemn the beating of Rawalpindi-based lawyer Malik Ghulam Mustafa, reports Dawn’s correspondent.

They boycotted court proceedings and observed a token hunger strike in the bar room.

Talking to local newsmen, District Bar Association (DBA) Attock President Rana Afsar Ali Khan and other members termed the incident a pre-planned attempt to threaten lawyers in the wake of their protest against the “suspension” of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.