July 23, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 19, 1429

KARACHI, July 22: A fact-finding mission of Lawasia — which groups together bar associations of 29 Asian and Pacific countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka — has praised the campaign launched by lawyers in Pakistan for the independence of the judiciary.

The delegation, which consisted of Lawasia President Mah Weng Kwai, Secretary-General Janet Neville and executive member Christopher Leong, went round the Sindh High Court and the SHC Bar Association office, and attended a luncheon hosted by the Sindh Bar Council at its office on Monday.

Mr Kwai said the mission would compile a report on the state of judiciary and rule of law in Pakistan, and submit it to all 29 of the Lawasia member associations.

The delegation was invited by the Pakistan Bar Council. It has already visited Islamabad and Lahore and met, besides leading representatives of the legal profession, deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. In Karachi, it also had a meeting with deposed SHC chief justice Sabihuddin Ahmed.

Ms Janet Neville, who belongs to Australia, said the objectives the lawyers were striving for in Pakistan were shared by members of the legal profession the world over. The mission’s report would inform the world public opinion of the issues involved.

Mr Leong, who belongs to Malaysia, said the situation was somewhat similar to the one prevailing in his country in 1988. However, when the Malaysian chief judge was removed, he was not supported by his colleagues.

All three members of the delegation commended the sustained struggle spearheaded by Pakistan lawyers for the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and reinstatement of deposed judges of superior courts.

Addressing the reception on behalf of the SBC, Vice-Chairman Muzaffar Leghari and executive committee chairman A. Haleem Siddiqui said the promulgation of emergency on Nov 3, 2007 was illegal and unconstitutional. The deposed judges could be restored by a resolution of the federal legislature followed up by an executive order, he said, adding that there was no need for an amendment package being circulated by the ruling coalition.

Pakistan Bar Council members Rasheed A. Razvi and Yasin Khan Azad; SBC members Mohammad Aqil Lodhi, Mohammad Ali Abbasi, Khalil Dogar, Mustafa Lakhani, Saathi Ishaq and Fazal Qadir Memon; and Karachi Bar Association President Mahmudul Hasan were also present.