SUKKUR, March 12: The local chapter of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, in its emergency meeting held on Wednesday, condemned the alleged detention of Rana Sanaullah, leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly.

Mr Sanaullah had accused personnel of some intelligence agency of having whisked him away from the premises of the district court building in broad daylight and blamed the ruling party of trying to stifle the opposition.

The Bar association’s meeting was presided over by its Sukkur chapter president Nizamuddin Baloch.

A unanimous resolution, adopted by the members of the Bar association, described the act as being illegal and unlawful on part of the agencies, saying that it was done to strengthen the hands of persons holding the reins of the Legal Framework Order.

Lawyers demanded of the government to appoint a high-level committee, comprising high court judges and lawyers, and institute an inquiry into the matter, adding that the culprits responsible for the act should be brought to the book.

The members of Bar association extended an appeal to Bar associations all over the country in general and Bar associations of Sindh in particular to remain steadfast and show their solidarity with their colleagues in their struggle for upholding the sanctity of the Constitution of 1973.

The Bar association also urged the country’s legal fraternity to remain rigid it their stand for achieving success under the directives of the Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Council and the provincial Bar councils.

The Bar association also criticized the high handedness of the governor of Sindh for arbitrarily suspending the decision of the honourable provincial Ombudsman.

The Sindh Ombudsman had, under an order dated Jan 2, 2003, called for inspection of police stations, other relevant places and record for detecting cases of illegal detention and other excesses committed by the police officials.

The Bar association urged the concerned authorities to rescind the order for suspension of the order of the learned Ombudsman and implement the same in its letter and spirit.

CRIMES: Members of the Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Sukkur Small Traders have expressed their concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the district and its surroundings.