ISLAMABAD: While voicing concern over the political turmoil and prevailing law and order situation in the capital, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Mian Mohammad Rauf Atta has urged the PTI and government to find a way out by holding dialogue and reconciliation.

“It is highly apprehended that if preventive steps are not chosen by the parties to this political conflict so as to avoid further chaos, the ultimate loser will be the Constitution, democracy and rule of law whilst everyone shall stay empty-handed,” Mr Atta said, noting that Article 245 has been invoked and troops deployed.

In a statement, the SCBA president said the overall law and order situation was extremely grave in the entire country and in the federal capital.

Already numerous precious lives on the outskirts of the capital have been lost and dozens have sustained severe injuries since Monday evening.

Govt, PTI urged to hold dialogue and work for reconciliation

“The ongoing protest has turned into a chaos,” he said.

The SCBA president noted that thousands of protesters had already taken control of roads, bringing life to a halt in the capital, while the law enforcement agencies had turned the entire city into a siege.

Besides, he regretted, there were roadblocks in every nook and corner of the country. The grave situation could provide an opening for unscrupulous elements to destroy peace “under the guise of this protest”.

With Article 245 of the Constitution already invoked and armed forces deployed, he said it was high time for all the relevant parties to let better sense prevail and sit together to find a way out of this ongoing turmoil by way of dialogue, negotiations and compromise.

After all, he said, that was what the democratic forces ought to do.

Otherwise, the ongoing situation was nothing less than “a perfect recipe” for undemocratic forces to sabotage the democratic and constitutional process of the country, Mr Atta feared.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2024