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KARACHI, Sept 5: On a call given by the Supreme Court Bar Association, the Karachi and Malir Bar Associations have announced that the lawyers will boycott the proceedings of city courts and Malir district courts on Thursday to show solidarity with the recently formed anti-Musharraf Lawyers’ Action Committee.
The Karachi Bar Association took the decision in its general body meeting held at the Shuhda-i-Punjab Hall of City Courts on Wednesday which was addressed by Sindh Bar Council members Mehmood-ul-Hassan, Saathi M. Ishaque, Ali Abbasi, KBA General-Secretary Naeem Qureshi, KBA members Hakim Shaikh, Sardar Tariq Khan Niazi, Minhaj Khan and Mohammad Ghaffar Khan Kakar.
They came hard on dictators saying that the military regimes have always shaken the country’s foundations, weakened the vital national institutions and misused the official powers for their vested interest. Army should concentrate on defending the frontiers, they said, adding that military should return to barracks as it had no role in politics. They deplored that over 500 key posts in various organizations had been occupied by retired military officials.
Recalling the sacrifices the lawyers had rendered for the independence of the judiciary during a four-month-long movement, they said it was the only issue that kept their unity intact across the country and that was why they succeeded in attaining their objective. They said that the credit went to lawyers who led the nation at a time of judicial crisis and it was a result of their struggle that the judiciary was taking independent decisions now. They also appreciated the media and civil society for their support to the movement.
Stressing the need to keep unity among their ranks, they said all the decisions regarding launch of any movement must be taken in consultation with other bar associations.
The speakers criticized the parties which were striking deals with the military rulers and said that the politicians should not take any step against the will of people. They said politicians did not play any significant role in the support of lawyers’ struggle and had always served their own interest.
Meanwhile, Malir Bar Association President Zahoor Hussain Mehar told Dawn that a general body meeting of the association was held at the bar room which decided to boycott the Malir district courts on Thursday.
SCBA sees no room for Musharraf
While talking to the Karachi Bar Association office-bearers at the committee room of the City Courts on Wednesday, Supreme Court Bar Association president Munir A. Malik asked President Pervez Musharraf to tender his resignation and empower Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro to dissolve the assemblies and hold free and fair elections through an independent election commission.
Accompanied by Sindh Bar Council members Mehmood-ul-Hassan and Mohammad Ali Abbasi, Mr Malik said there was no room for General Musharraf to remain in power with or without uniform. However, he made it clear the lawyers’ movement was basically aimed at changing the public mindset. “We are not against a particular person but want to bring a change in the system,” he said.
He recalled the struggle of lawyers for the independence of the judiciary and said the lawyers would continue to lead the nation in the right direction.
