Lawyers’ boycott of SHC proceedings continues
KARACHI – The City lawyers Monday completely boycotted the Sindh High Court proceedings and continued their strike according to the decision of Sindh High Court Bar Association and Pakistan Bar Council against the imposition of emergency rule.
However the lawyers observed a token strike of the court proceedings in City Court for one hour and appeared before the court for hearing after five days’ complete boycott of the court’s proceedings, while thin appearances of lawyers were witnessed at Malir Court.
In SHC the judges were present at the chambers but could not hear the cases due to strike of lawyers. Citizens whose cases were fixed in the HC faced mental agony and families of detained and alleged persons who were to present in the court for hearing experienced various problems.
Meanwhile a General Body meeting of Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) was held, the meeting was presided over by Akhtar Hussain, Former President of SHCBA.
Justice (Retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid and Mr.Justice (Retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim (both retired Judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan) also addressed to the Members of the Bar.
Speakers on that occasion while addressing to the members said “we reiterate our earlier resolves and fully support the call of Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar and other Associations of lawyers throughout the Country condemning the proclamation of Emergency and PCO”.
They further said that the country is under Martial Law for all intent and purposes, we acknowledge, honour and fully support those Judges of Superior Courts, who have not taken oath under PCO and they added that lawyers will not appear before the persons occupying the Supreme Court and High Courts by taking oath under PCO, violating the Constitution and the Judgment of Supreme Court.
They also announced that complete boycott of the courts will continue till 16th November 2007 and thereafter in consultation with and consensus of lawyers leadership decide about the future course of action while they also appealed to the members of the Bar to socially boycott those persons who have taken Oath under PCO and also those lawyers who are not following the decisions of the Bar.
While meeting also adopted a resolution and decided that lawyers of the firm opinion that before withdrawal of Emergency PCO and restoration of the Judges of Superior Courts as they were on 2nd November, 2007, the announcement for caretaker Governments and holding of General Election is meaningless and is a fraud being played on the people of Pakistan.
Lawyers strongly condemn the amendment made in Pakistan
Army Act where under Military Courts will be established for the trial of civilians which actions further support our stand that the country is under Martial Law and demand
the immediate withdrawal thereof.
In resolution they strongly condemned the proposed amendments in Bar Council Act empowering Judges to grant, suspend or cancel licenses of Advocates, such efforts even in the past were also strongly resisted by the Bar and will not allow any such undemocratic and illegal amendment and strongly condemn such efforts and actions in unambiguous terms. They also strongly condemned the restrictions imposed on Electronic and Print Media whereby peoples of Pakistan have been deprived of excess to information. We also condemn the restrictions on entry of Media Reporters and Photographers in the premises of Sindh High Court.
The lawyers also appealed in the resolution to all Political Parties to take united stand on the aforesaid national issues and launch a countrywide peoples movement for withdrawal of Emergency, PCO, amendment in the Army Act and Bar Council Act and restoration of Judiciary as it existed on 2nd November 2007 and non-interference of Armed forces in Political affairs of the Country while also appealed to Media, Civil Society and different Sections of Society to fully support the movement.
They also appealed to the International Community to support the Judiciary and the movement of legal fraternity and Pakistan people’s movement and pressurise the Military Government of General Pervez Musharraf to step down paving the way for real democracy with independent judiciary.
Source: The Nation
Date:11/13/2007
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