LAHORE, Feb 2: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has refused to issue a call for a complete boycott of courts before judges who have taken oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO).

The decision was taken at a council meeting on the premises of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Saturday to review the demand of provincial bars for a complete boycott. “We have decided to uphold the bar’s Jan 13 decision, which restricted the complete boycott of the PCO judges to one day a week and an hour daily,” announced PBC vice-chairman Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig at a press conference. The PBC’s refusal to call for a complete boycott is in sharp contrast with the statement of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Aitzaz Ahsan, who had said on Friday that a complete boycott of the PCO judges was essential for restoration of the deposed judges.

Giving details of the meeting, the PBC vice-chairman said the lawyers would observe a complete boycott of higher and subordinate courts on Thursdays besides taking out rallies.

He said the boycott call was mandatory for all bars across the country.

“However, the bars wishing to enhance the period of boycott were welcome to do so and would be appreciated,” he said. Mr Baig said that he had forwarded the PBC directives to the representatives of all provincial bars.

The directions come in the wake of complaints that lawyers are not adhering to even the one-day boycott of court proceedings before the PCO judges. Mr Baig said lawyers would hold conventions to broaden their horizon of their movement for restoration of judges, Constitution and the rule of law.

He said a lawyers’ convention would be held on February 9 in Islamabad along with a rally to the residence of Justice Iftikhar.