KARACHI: SHCBA chief briefs lawyers on talks with Altaf
By A Reporter
KARACHI, May 18: Lawyers in Sindh High Court, City Courts and Malir Courts stayed away from court proceedings for an hour against the presidential reference filed against the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
During the boycott, a general body meeting of the Sindh High Court Bar Association was held at the bar room which was addressed by SHCBA President Abrar Hasan, General Secretary Munir-ur-Rehman, Sindh Bar Council members Mustafa Lakhani, Salahuddin Khan Gandapur, Akhtar Hussain, Abdul Hafeez Lakho and Shafiq Qureshi.
Abrar Hasan informed the lawyers about his telephonic discussion with the chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, and conveyed his message to them. The lawyers termed the message a good omen and a step towards creation of a pleasant atmosphere. However, they made it clear that the struggle for independence of judiciary would continue at all costs. They said they would welcome all those who supported them in their struggle.
Sindh Bar Council member Salahuddin Khan Gandapur said that instead of issuing statements, the Muttahida should make an apology for the May 12 incidents. “A phone call from London does not serve the purpose, as dozens were gunned down and several people were shot and wounded,” he said adding that it was time to step up the efforts for the independence of judiciary.
The lawyers said the government used all tactics to stop the campaign, but could not succeed and at last tried to shoot the lawyers, which was tantamount to state terrorism. They said no good could be expected from the military regime after the May 12 incidents.
Meanwhile, SHCBA members Syed Iftikhar Ali, Arshad Rauf, Arshad Jadoon, Khalil-ur-Rehman Abbasi and Khalid Marwat observed a token hunger strike at the bar room.
In City Courts, the Karachi Bar Association held a general body meeting at Shuhda-i-Punjab Hall. KBA President Iftikhar Javaid Qazi, Nihal Hashmi. K.K. Javaid Khan, Hafeez Baloch, Mushtaq Jahangiri, Aaqil Lodhi, Khalid Mumtaz, Mehmood-ul-Hasan, Younus Irshad, Mehar Ilahi, Haleem Siddiqui, and Naheed Afzal addressed the meeting.
They condemned the police for non-registration of FIR against MQM leadership, officials of Sindh police and Sindh government. They said an application would be filed in the court of district and session judge under Article 22-A for registration of a case against MQM chief Altaf Hussein, his party leaders and Sindh government.
A strategy was being devised to hold a demonstration against the dual citizenship of MQM chief, they said, adding that lawyers through banners, placards would lodge their protest with the United Kingdom government for giving citizenship to Altaf Hussain. “The UK government has given citizenship to a person who is the mastermind of bloody clashes in our country,” they added.
