KARACHI, July 7: The city’s legal fraternity has criticised the government over proposed legislation aimed at changing the contempt of court law and allowing holders of dual nationality to contest elections saying such bills are against the basic structure of the Constitution.

The lawyers vowed to resist any such move.

Speaking at the general body meeting of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) at the Shuhada-i-Punjab hall of the city courts, they said that the rulers introduced the legislation for their personal interest.

They said that the proposed laws were actually aimed at facilitating the government to further defy the apex court’s orders and to put the country’s integrity at stake by enabling the holders of dual nationalities to become rulers and legislators.

The meeting, presided over by the KBA president, adopted a resolution condemning the government’s move to amend the contempt of court and dual nationality laws and said it was being considered as an attack on judiciary.

The government was in no mood to obey the superior judiciary’s orders and intended to bring controversial amendments to further violate the judicial directives, it added.

The resolution stated that parliament had no authority to make such amendments since the proposed legislation were against the basic structure of the Constitution.

The legal fraternity would launch a country-wide movement if parliament passed the proposed amendments, it added.

While adopting the nationality of the United States and other western countries, the dual nationality holders took oath to be loyal to them, then how could they work for the welfare of this country, it added.

The government was putting the country’s solidarity and integrity at stake by allowing the dual nationals to become part of parliament, the resolution concluded.

The representatives of lawyers were of the view that the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government was appeared to be committed to saving the president by using illegitimate tactics.

Bomb hoax

Fear and panic spread in and around the office of the KBA owing to a bomb hoax a couple of hours before the commencement of the general body meeting.

Bomb disposal squad personnel thoroughly searched the areas but found no explosive material.