KARACHI, May 25: The legal fraternity has again invited the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, to Karachi, this time to address the concluding session of the golden jubilee of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The date for this event has not been fixed as of yet.
This was told to Dawn by General Secretary, Sindh High Court Bar Association, Munir-ur-Rehman.
Mr Rehman said that it was up to the CJ to spare time out of his schedule, adding that the lawyers of Karachi would accord him a warm welcome on his arrival.
Meanwhile, lawyers continued their daily hour-long boycotts at the Sindh High Court, the City Courts and the Malir District Courts on Friday. They also observed token hunger strikes in their respective bar rooms against the suspension of the CJ.
SHCBA MEETING: A general body meeting of the members of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) was held at the bar room, which was addressed by Sindh Bar Council’s Human Rights Committee Chairman Aaqil Lodhi and Munir-ur-Rehman.
The members expressed their concern over the reports of life threats to the counsels of the CJ and said that it was the duty of the government to provide security to the lawyers prior to any mishap. They said that pleading the CJ’s case was not a crime but a duty of the lawyers, and those trying to intimidate the legal community were committing a heinous crime.
Speakers said that the entire nation witnessed the May 12 mayhem and those involved in the terrorist activities were also not hidden, adding that the government was responsible for the ugly scenes. They said lawyers, despite receiving threats, will not stop their support of the CJ and will never bow to any pressure.
They said in case of any harm to the lawyers representing the CJ, the entire responsibility would rest with the government. Three members of the association observed a token hunger strike. They were Sati M. Ishaq, Khalid Javaid and Hafeez Qureshi.
MINTO: Members of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) also held a general body meeting at the Shuhada-i-Punjab Hall at the City Courts. Former President, Supreme Court Bar Association, Abid Hassan Minto, President KBA Iftikhar Javaid Qazi, General Secretary, Naeem Qureshi, and Younus Shaad addressed the meeting.
Mr Minto threw light on the role of the army and the politicians since the creation of the country. He said that military dictators always violated the rules and misused official powers. He said the country was either ruled by the feudal class or military dictators, and added that the latter were more powerful and did whatever they wished.
Mr Minto, who is also President of the National Workers’ Party, said the people had attached many expectations to the lawyers’ movement as everyone wished for the independence of the judiciary. He was optimistic that the lawyers’ movement would succeed and the people would be able to get justice through an independent judiciary and added that democratic institutions would also gain strength in the country.
The KBA leaders briefed him about the lawyers’ campaign since March 10. They said the weapons used on May 12 were very sophisticated and were only supposed to be with the armed forces. They said the police were unarmed and the Rangers also played the role of silent spectators, which resulted in the killing of dozens of innocent people, including lawyers.
Six KBA members observed a token hunger strike in the City Courts. They were: Syed Suleman Badshah, Syed Lal Hussein Shah, Mohammad Mukhtiar Ahmed Ghazi, Mohamad Nasir, Miss Khairun Nisa and Khalid Nawaz Khan Marwat. Two members of the Malir Bar Association, Ali-ur-Rehman and Hujjat-ur-Rehman, also observed a token hunger strike.
