KARACHI: Lawyers vow to oppose president’s re-election
By A Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 6: Legal proceedings remained suspended on Thursday in the city and Malir district courts in response to the strike call given by the Supreme Court Bar Association to protest against Gen Pervez Musharraf’s re-election plan as president.
The lawyers stayed away from the courts and the judges also remained in their chambers on the lawyers’ request. The undertrial prisoners were not brought to the courts from different prisons.
The stamp paper vendors also kept their businesses closed to show solidarity with the lawyers in their struggle for the restoration of a real democracy. The canteens on the premises of the City Courts also remained shuttered.
A general body meeting of the Karachi Bar Association was held in the Shuhda-i-Punjab Hall of the City Courts. Those who spoke on the occasion were Syed Nadeem Shehzad Qureshi, Khairunnisa, Imran Iqbal, Shahid Kaleemi and Mohammad Sagheer.
The speakers criticised President Pervez Musharraf and alleged that he was responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, the increase of prices of daily-use commodities, and the rising rate of unemployment.
They alleged that the president was following the agenda of anti-Pakistan forces and was using the army against its own people in Balochistan and the tribal agencies.
They said the country was facing a crisis and the rulers had failed to overcome the situation, adding that the enemies of Pakistan were hatching conspiracies to undermine the country.
Referring to the importance of the defence day of Pakistan, they said it was the duty of the lawyers and the army to step up their efforts for the country’s defence as was mentioned in the constitution.
About the lawyers’ movement, they said this was its second phase for the restoration of democracy and constitution in the country, and they were no longer ready to accept the military dictators.
They said the country was founded by a lawyer (Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah) and the lawyers would defend it, adding that it was the duty of all patriotic citizens to join hands against the dictators and all those serving the interests of their foreign masters.
A meeting, presided over by Malir Bar Association president Zahoor Hussain Mehar, was held in the bar room. The participants pledged their full support to the anti-Musharraf Lawyers Action Committee and vowed to follow the decisions of the Pakistan Bar Council, the Sindh Bar Council and the Supreme Court Association in the best interest of the country.
The meeting also nominated Mukhtar Junejo as honorary general-secretary of the Malir Bar Association for the remaining period till the next elections. The office of general-secretary had fallen vacant due to the appointment of Abdul Naeem Memon as additional district and sessions judge.
“President Pervez Musharraf wants to prolong his tenure by using such tactics, but he cannot pressurise the judiciary and will face stiff resistance from all law abiding citizens,” the speakers said.
The general body meeting decided that the entry of all lawyers who supported President Musharraf would be banned in all three bars, Karachi Bar Association, Sindh High Court Bar Association and the Sindh Bar Council.
