LAHORE, July 17: Office-bearers of the LAWASIA, a lawyers’ body consisting of Asia Pacific bars, have pledged support to the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of deposed judges.

LAWASIA mission president Mah Weng Kwai said this while speaking at a reception hosted by the Lahore High Court Bar Association here on Thursday. LAWASIA Secretary-General Janet Neville and Malaysia Bar Council President Christopher Leong were also present.

“Creating awareness about the situation in Pakistan is very important, since it will enable lawyers across the world to support the lawyers’ movement,” Mr Kwai said.

He said their organization, launched some 42 years ago, comprised national bar councils of 25 countries in Asia Pacific, including Pakistan — a member since 35 years.

Ms Neville said: “Our fundamental reasons for coming here were to try and understand the situation and to see what kind of difficulties the Pakistani lawyers are facing currently.

We feel that what the lawyers here are doing is vital, and that it is important to convey their message to lawyers around the world.”

She said that it would be unwise to say that judges’ reinstatement would solve Pakistan’s problems immediately, but “it will be a beginning towards solving these problems since the rule of law is fundamental for the good governance”.

Christopher Leong said former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammad had deposed judges in 1988 out of his fear that the Supreme Court could decide a case of his party’s election against him.

The Malaysian lawyers’ movement lasted some 20 years and it was only this year that the government finally apologized for removing the judges and offered compensation, he said.

The delegation also attended the Lahore High Court general house meeting, and then left for a meeting with the Punjab chief minister.

The mission will also visit other courts in Pakistan and try to find out how the organization can support the lawyers’ movement here, and also produce a report on lawyers’ struggle.