August 27, 2008	Wednesday	Sha'aban 24, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 26: The Sindh High Court Bar Association has urged all federal and provincial legislators, irrespective of their party affiliations, to vote for former chief justice Saiduzzaman Siddiqui, in the presidential polls to strengthen the cause of democracy and justice.

A resolution passed through circulation by the SHCBA managing committee said the head of the state being the symbol of Federation should be an independent person having no bias or prejudice and should, above all, be a man of unexceptionable integrity. He should not belong to a political party as the country had a multi-party system and all parties should have faith and confidence in the president.

Reaffirming the lawyers’ resolve to uphold the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, sovereignty of parliament and good governance, the resolution noted that the unnecessary delay in the restoration of the pre-November 2, 2007, judiciary by the present civilian government was causing distress, doubts and apprehensions among the members of civil society. The legal fraternity had no choice but to strengthen and intensify its struggle.

It said the elected representatives had a sacred duty to exercise their votes faithfully and honestly reflecting the sentiments of the people of Pakistan while electing the president on Sept 6.

“We humbly appeal to the conscience of the members of the Senate, the National Assembly and all four provincial assemblies to cast their votes, irrespective of their party affiliations, in favour of former chief justice Saiduzzaman Siddiqui, who is an ideal choice for the office of president. We also request the political parties to review their earlier decision and to elect Justice Siddiqui”, the resolution said.

Sit-in at noon

Meanwhile, members of the civil society, political activists, human rights campaigners and non-governmental organizations, including Aurat Foundation, Pasban and Shabab-i-Milli, held a meeting in the consultation room of the SHC cafeteria to review arrangements for a sit-in on MA Jinnah Road from 12 o’clock and 2 pm on August 28. The meeting was chaired by SHCBA President Rasheed A. Razvi.

The participants were of the view that the government was being unfair and unjust to reinstate the deposed judges by administering them a new oath in violation of the Supreme Court judgment of Nov 2, 2007.

A new oath, they said, would validate the removal of the judges under the provisional constitutional order, which had been declared illegal by the Supreme Court.