HYDERABAD: Lawyers boy­cotted courts on Thursday in favour of supre­macy of the Constitution and continuity of democracy.

The boycott was observed on the call of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to offer support for democratic system. Lawyers did not appear in civil, sessions and high courts.

SBC vice chairman Abdul Sattar Kazi condemned the way Islamabad is paralysed by the supporters of Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri. If someone did not like the prime minister, he himself should resign, he said, adding that hurdles created in Islamabad by protesters were condemnable.

He said there had to be a political way to resolve political issues. Constitutional way should be adopted in this regard, he said, questioning: “Is it possible that I must become the PM simply because I want to?” He said it was lawlessness.

High Court Bar Association (HCBA) president Nisar Durrani said the court work had remained suspended completely. He, however, urged the government to exercise restraint because a big crowd, including women and children, was there and if it was mishandled, responsibility would lay on the shoulders of the government. He criticised the government for not engaging protesters properly to resolve the impasse.

But, he said, lawyers were united to thwart any attempt to subvert the Constitution.

He criticised the foul language being used by protesters’ leaders. He said that any mishandling would be harmful for the government because the country was already facing a war like conditions.

MIRPURKHAS: Lawyers under Mirpurkhas Bar Association boycotted the court proceedings to protest against what they termed an attempt to dislodge democracy in the country.

Owing to the boycott, many people coming for hearings faced hardships.SHIKARPUR: Shikarpur District Bar Association also joined the boycott and did not appear before courts in protest.

Judicial trial of the prisoners suffered several difficulties due to the protest.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZ: Lawyers boycotted the court proceedings in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Bhiria City and Kandiaro.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014