KARACHI, May 29: Lawyers in the Sindh High Court and the City Courts on Tuesday rejected the inquiry committee constituted by the Sindh government to probe the May 12 bloodshed and termed it a load of eyewash.
Addressing a general body meeting of the Sindh High Court Bar Association, its president Abrar Hasan, general-secretary Munir-ur-Rehman, Aamir Niaz Khan and Aamir Raza Naqvi said the government was misleading the nation by issuing false statements to the press regarding the May 12 mayhem, adding that the entire nation knew who was responsible for the May 12 bloodshed.
They said lawyers always remained peaceful and never resorted to violence, but they were not allowed to hold the golden jubilee ceremony. They said judiciary was doing its job and the judges themselves witnessed the happenings on May 12. They said the lawyers would continue their movement in a very peaceful manner and would not succumb to any pressure.
SHCBA members boycotted the court proceedings for one hour from 10.30am to 11.30am. Three members of the bar -- Liaquat Ali Abro, Khalil Qureshi and Zualfiqar Ali -- observed a token hunger strike.
At the City Courts, the Karachi Bar Association held its general body meeting at Shuda-i-Punjab Hall.
Addressing the meeting, KBA General-Secretary Naeem Qureshi said: “We cannot believe in the inquiry committees being formed by the government and no good can be expected from the corrupt police officials.”
He condemned Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, federal ministers and Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and said they were continuously issuing statements to the press about the judiciary which he said was an attempt to interfere in the judiciary’s affairs and tantamount to contempt of court.
He expressed his satisfaction over the suo motu action taken by the High Court of Sindh and said the lawyers were telling what they actually faced on May 12. He said the government was unable to clarify its position and contradictory statements were issued to the press which, he said, further exposed the rulers.
Mohammad Hanif Kashmiri said the government used police against the lawyers in an attempt to ensure a breakdown of law and order in the city. But, he said, the lawyers would never resort to violence and continue their legal fight for the independence of the judiciary. He said the Station House Officer of the City Courts police was acting like a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
Naheed Afzaal criticised the military rulers for supporting ethnic groups and said due to the wrong policies of the military dictators the country was facing a serious crisis. He said time was not very far away when the rulers would withdraw the reference against Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
K.K. Javaid Khan condemned the MQM for wall-chalking and holding rallies against Pakistan Tehrik Insaf chief Imran Khan and said that leaders of a mature political party could never opt to do so. He said the wall-chalking was condemned by majority of citizens. He said President Musharraf was supporting the MQM as if he was a member of the party.
Tariq Khan Niaz, Chaudhry Abdul Sattar, Iqbal Hashmi, Attiq Qureshi, Qasim Khan and Tufail Akbar said the government failed to weaken the lawyers’ movement and the time had come when rulers were vying for face saving. They said lawyers’ movement would bear fruit in near future and judiciary would be independent soon. They asked for complete unity in lawyers’ ranks.
Despite speaking different languages and having political affiliation with various parties, the lawyers were fully united for a noble cause. They pledged that lawyers would continue the struggle at all costs till independence of judiciary.
Lawyers in the City Courts and Malir District Courts also stayed away from the court proceedings for one hour from 10.30am to 11.30am.
Four members of KBA observed a token hunger strike. They were Haji Rozi Khan Kohistani, Alamgir Khan Kohistani, Syed Ejaz Hussain Zaidi and Mohammad Hussain Aftab Gilgiti.
Meanwhile, the Malir Bar Association’s executive committee met with its president Zahoor Hussain Mehar in the chair. The meeting discussed various problems being faced by the members after the May 12 mayhem. They decided to hold a general body meting on Wednesday to decide the future line of action.
Two members of Malir Bar Association Fida Hussain Qureshi and Bashir Ahmed observed a token hunger strike.