THE legal fraternity rendered undeniable sacrifices with the help of civil society and media for the restoration of judges in 2007. The movement was aimed at the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. During that movement, the legal community’s misbehaviour with their senior colleagues, who differed with them, passed unnoticed.

While purporting for the rule of law, the lawyers vehemently violated sanctity, dignity and respect of the law and their profession. A senior advocate was beaten in the court of the additional district and sessions’ judge, Rawalpindi, and prevented from presenting his client’s case.

This incident too went unnoticed by the authorities concerned.

After the restoration of deposed judges, lawyers celebrated the occasion. Although the success came about by efforts of legal sodality, the media and civil society, lawyers presumed that it all happened due to their struggle and that the judiciary was obliged to pay back.

Since no appropriate steps were taken to dissipate the notion, the lawyers made it a routine to assault lower court judges and to quarrel with police investigators and media men.

In Lahore, Faisalabad andSargodha, judges were locked in courts. In some cases, lawyers resorted to strike calls, protests and boycotts of courts, demanding transfer of judges who could not oblige them. But all these events were ignored.

Recently a lawyer of Lahore got into a heated argument with a judge who issued a contempt notice and ordered his deputy to arrest him.

The Lahore Bar associates rescued their colleague and announced a boycott of the court till the judge was transferred.

These frequent boycotts by lawyers cause disturbance and financial losses to people whose cases are fixed for hearing in courts.

Practising such unlawful activities and claiming that the legal community stands with the Supreme Court does not enhance their prestige; rather the noble profession is put to disgrace.

One wonders why such exercises are on the rise and why no action is being taken against them!

RAJA SHAFAATULLAH Islamabad