LAHORE: Pakistan Bar Council member Ahsan Bhoon says some lawyers from political parties are creating unnecessary uproar over legislation in the parliament.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, he asserted that the lawyers were neither aligned with the government nor with any disruptive political group.

Mr Bhoon, also a former president of the Supreme Court Association, said the lawyers should not allow themselves to be manipulated. He noted that ‘the constitutional package’ had not yet been presented so there was no point in discussing it prematurely. He further stated that no amendment should be introduced to extend anyone’s tenure.

Mr Bhoon said the parliament had the authority to amend the Constitution and all judges, including Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, were worthy of respect. He claimed that the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) asserted that lawyers did not follow anyone’s dictation and that legislation against the basic structure of the Constitution could not be made.

Mr Bhoon, who heads Asma Jahangir group in the bar, also pointed out that in 2006, all parties had signed the Charter of Democracy, urging the politicians to return to the pact. He criticised those ‘attacking’ the SCBA, accusing them of having supported dictators in the past.

Without naming PTI lawyers’ wing, the PBC member said those who grew up under martial law or benefited from it were now accusing the SCBA of being ineffective. He regretted that funds for the Lahore High Court Bar Association were withheld because some individuals were misusing them for the benefit of a particular political party.

He recalled that the 2007 movement was launched by the lawyers but some individuals later compromised its objectives for personal gains. He said the lawyers’ efforts had paid off as the Punjab government’s issuance of a notification reducing court fees was a positive step. He welcomed the decision to completely abolish court fees for family courts and legal representation for the prisoners.

FAWAD: Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry said a constitutional amendment was being introduced with a specific purpose and a plan was being made to undermine the judiciary.

Speaking to the journalists outside the anti-terrorism courts, he stated that the ‘constitutional package’ would grant Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa more than just an extension. He said the judiciary was the only independent institution left in the country.

Fawad alleged that the abduction of parliamentarians was being used to manipulate the number game in the assembly. He said no civilian in Pakistan was currently more powerful than Senator Mohsin Naqvi.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2024