HRCP felicitates Asma | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

HRCP felicitates Asma

LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Thursday hailed Asma Jahangir’s election as president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) as a momentous event that will give a boost to the human rights movement in Pakistan.

In a statement, the commission said: “The HRCP felicitates Ms Asma Jahangir on her well-earned victory in election for the presidentship of the country’s highest bar association.

The lawyers practicing at the apex court have obviously turned to her to guide them towards establishing the independence and integrity of the legal profession.

The HRCP joins them in hoping that as SCBA President Asma Jahangir will continue her struggle for the independence of the judiciary, the rights and dignity of lawyers, rule of law, and the defence of underprivileged sections of society with the same fervour that she has displayed throughout her career.

Her resignation from the chair of HRCP the moment she decided to contest for the bar office meant an irreparable loss for this organisation for her contribution to the growth of the human rights movement in Pakistan, and specially to the founding and nourishing of HRCP, remains unmatched.

Nor is it possible to ignore her part in promoting international human rights mechanisms as a special rapporteur on two themes, which also enhanced Pakistan’s prestige in world councils.

While she will doubtless continue to contribute to HRCP’s work as an active member, we hope that her assumption of the leadership of the bar will give a boost to the human rights movement in Pakistan and enable the bar to play its role in defending and promoting human rights of all people, especially of those who do not enjoy easy access to justice.”

FELICITATIONS: Members of civil society and lawyers’ associations congratulated the newly-elected Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir for her victory and extended good wishes to her.

Members of Aurat Foundation congratulated Ms Jahangir on her tremendous success and termed it a victory of democracy and rule of law. They hoped she would play her role in ensuring provision of justice to the masses and independence of judiciary in country.

Bushra Khaliq, Umm-i-Laila Azhar, Shumaila Tanvir, Salman Abid, Dawood Saqlain, Hanif Ramay and others advanced their good wishes to Ms Jahangir on behalf of the Foundation.

Association of Pakistani Lawyers, a team of Pakistani lawyers in UK, congratulated Ms Jahangir and other newly-elected officials of the SCBA. Association’s chairman Barrister Amjad Malik in a statement said Ms Jahangir deserved double congratulations; one for her victory and the other for being the first female attaining that honour to lead the highest lawyers’ body of Pakistan. He also invited Ms Jahangir to visit UK to discuss various issues.
Source: Dawn
Date:10/29/2010