LAHORE: A lawyers’ convention on Saturday demanded cancellation of terrorism cases against advocates and withdrawal of ‘unjust’ shifting of civil courts from city to Model Town.

Hosted by the Lahore High Court Bar Association, the convention was attended by the elected representatives of the bars from across the country.

They condemned the police raids at the chambers and the residences of the lawyers followed by their arrests under ‘fabricated’ terrorism charges.

They said the government had been trying to give an impression as if the lawyers were terrorists. The speakers termed the registration of FIRs carrying terrorism charges a conspiracy to corner the legal fraternity.

They said the judiciary’s history in Pakistan was filled with unconstitutional actions at the behest of the establishment and the intelligence agencies.

A declaration issued at convention called for removal of provisions related to terrorism charges from the cases against arrested lawyers. It also demanded dignified release of all lawyers arrested in the country.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2024