KARACHI: Dorab Patel Award to be conferred on lawyers
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 23: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday announced that it would confer the second Dorab Patel Award on the lawyers of Pakistan in appreciation of their “contribution to public recognition and acceptance of the essential values of the rule of the law, independence of the judiciary and the restoration of ‘true democracy’ through their peaceful continuing movement.
“The HRCP has decided to award the lawyers of Pakistan the Dorab Patel Award for the promotion of the rule of law,” Iqbal Haider, Secretary-General of the HRCP said at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club.
While arriving at this decision, he said, the HRCP acknowledged the contribution and role of a large number of lawyers, particularly the young activists among them, and the various bar associations and councils throughout the country, not only in the major cities but also and especially in the districts and towns.
“During the movement the lawyers displayed the highest possible commitment to the cause of justice by repeatedly coming out on the streets in the scorching heat and were deterred neither by the loss of practice nor by the wanton violence (of the) authorities,” he said.
Munir A. Malik, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said the lawyers’ movement would continue till the “ultimate triumph.”
“Our struggle will continue in the courts and on the streets,” he said.
He said if the people were mobilized then future decisions would come in their favour.
“We have to go a long way to change the existing mindset prevailing in our society,” he said.
He pointed out that the largest common denominator the community had was the rule of law and supremacy of the constitution, on the basis of which everyone could join the movement.
In reply to a question, he said national reconciliation should be in accordance with the format of South Africa.
Rashid A. Razvi, a former judge of the Sindh High Court, said that “no movement could succeed without the participation of civil society.”
