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KARACHI, July 7: In line with the decision of the Pakistan Bar Council, lawyers in the City Courts and Malir District Courts stayed away from the court proceedings on Saturday from 10.30am to 11.30am against the presidential reference filed in the Supreme Judicial Council against Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
Terming the Lal Masjid stand-off a government-sponsored issue, the lawyers criticised the government for its failure to help flood-affected people in Sindh and Balochistan. They asked the rulers to tender resignation so that free, fair and impartial elections could be held under the supervision of a neutral set-up.
These views were expressed at the Karachi Bar Association general body meeting held at Shuhda-i-Punjab Hall. The meeting unanimously approved a resolution, presented by KBA General-Secretary Naeem Qureshi, for the cancellation of the bar membership of Sharifuddin Peerzada.
Army criticised
Addressing the meeting, PBC member Muhammad Yaseen Azad wondered how the rulers would resolve the critical issues if they failed to resolve the government-sponsored Lal Masjid issue.
He said the government could not change public opinion about the judiciary’s independence, the rule of law and the establishment of democratic institutions.Mr Azad said the armed forces, which got 70 per cent of the national budget, did not bat an eyelid when arms and ammunitions were being brought in the mosque. The military government must admit its failure in the prevailing circumstances, he added.
Supreme Court Bar Association Vice-President Khawaja Naveed Ahmed said lawyers were struggling for the independence of the judiciary. He expressed the hope that the movement would continue and lawyers would emerge victorious.
Sindh Bar Council Member Salahuddin Gandapur said the state affairs had been left at the mercy of various agencies which he said were busy in weakening the foundations of the country. He said no democratic government could dare to tarnish the image of the country by weakening its judiciary and democratic institutions, but the military-led government was taking all unconstitutional steps.
He said it was high time for the judiciary to make a distinction between its foes and friends and ensure its independence. He also criticised the government for its failure to help the flood-affected people in Sindh and Balochistan.
About the Lal Masjid issue, he said it was a self-created problem of the government and stressed the need for giving safe passage to the students.
Flood-hit areas
SBC member Saathi M. Ishaq expressed concern over the grave situation in the flood-hit areas and said it was a glaring example of the government incompetence. He said President Pervez Musharraf despite holding the top slots of president and army chief failed to minimise the people’s grievances. Fair elections were the key to solving all the problems, he added.
KBA General-Secretary Naeem Qureshi demanded the army’s return to the barracks, restoration of democracy and independence of the judiciary. He said the present parliament was like a rubber stamp which did nothing for public welfare but always followed the unconstitutional steps of General Musharraf.
KBA Joint Secretary Aamir Niaz Khan said the Lal Masjid operation was a drama which was staged to pave the way for imposing a ban on other seminaries in the country. He opposed the army role in politics and said the rulers were not sincere about serving the people.
Lawyers in the Sindh High Court, the City Courts and the Malir District Courts also observed a token hunger strike in their respective bars to lodge their protest against the suspension of chief justice.
‘Protect the students’
In a statement issued on Saturday, National People’s Lawyers Forum President Mushtaq A. Awan expressed shock over the killing of students in the mosque and asked the government to take effective measures for protection of other students. Most of the students were hailing from the poor families and scores of them were orphans, he said, adding that it was duty of the government to ensure their security and education.
