ISLAMABAD: Superior Court bars have disowned the Lahore High Court Bar Association ultimatum of resignation to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
LHCBA, on Saturday, had threatened to start a lawyers movement if the prime minister did not resign within seven days.
Talking to media, Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Ahsan Bhoon said that they believed that the PM should resign in view of the apex court’s verdict, the LHCBA announcement for a movement for his removal is “premature and based on emotions”.
He added that any such move would suggest distrust in the verdict delivered by the three judges who ruled in the majority and morally, PM has lost his ground, but legally, he can stay in his office.
“The PBC, as a top regulatory body of lawyers, will only take steps after getting input from representatives of all bar associations,” he added.
Bhoon also urged the SC to finalize the members of JIT after examining their credentials. Likewise, Supreme Court Bar Association General Secretary Aftab Bajwa said the SCBA would soon summon a convention of all lawyers’ representatives to discuss their opinions on starting a movement for the PM’s resignation.
About the LHCBA’s call, he said it was the bar’s own decision and the SCBA would not join it before consulting with all lawyers’ bodies.
Islamabad High Court Bar Association president Arif Chaudhry also disowned the LHCBA call saying that they would not make any decision on the issue until consultations were held with all executive committee members.
In comparison with other political parties, the PML-N is not known to be particularly active in bar politics. Unsurprisingly, it is also not well represented in the bars.
On a related note, no significant financial grants have been given to bar associations since the PML-N has been in power. It is likely that lawyers representatives will utilise this opportunity to demand funds for the welfare of their respective bars.
LHCBA President Chaudhry Zulfiqar happens to be affiliated with the Jamaat-i-Islami and is a close associate of the Hamid Khan lawyers group when it comes to bar politics. Hamid Khan is senior PTI member.
Separately, the PTI has decided to approach superior bars for their support in its drive for the PM’s resignation.
