April 24, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1429

KARACHI, April 23: The deposed chief justice of the Sindh High Court, Sabihuddin Ahmed, on Wednesday said the restoration of the judiciary to its Nov-2 position was not an issue of a few judges’ jobs but it was about the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law in the country.

While addressing an oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected cabinet of the Malir Bar Association at Malir District Courts, he lauded the lawyers’ struggle for the rule of law. The deposed judge said the movement had spread awareness among the people about the independence of judiciary and the supremacy of the constitution.

He said it was the responsibility of the legal fraternity to uphold the rule of law, protect the fundamental rights of citizens and keep a watchful on the performance of judges.

The Sindh High Court Bar Association president, Rasheed A. Rizvi, said that the formation of a committee for the restoration of the deposed judges was not in conformity with the Murree Declaration. The declaration did not mention formation of any such body for the reinstatement of judges, he added.

He said if the judiciary was not resorted to its pre-PCO position till April 30 then the legal fraternity would decide to besiege the parliament in the lawyers’ convention in Islamabad on May 3. Later, Sabihuddin Ahmed administered the oath to the newly-elected office-bearers of the Malir Bar Association.