DG Khan lawyers protest Babar Awan’s licence suspension

Lawyers say Supreme Court has overstepped jurisdiction as only bar councils can revoke licences.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Lawyers from southern Punjab, incensed over the suspension of former law minister Babar Awan’s licence, organised a protest in Dera Ghazi Khan on Wednesday, saying the Supreme Court had overstepped its jurisdiction.

Strong statements, bordering on contempt, were made by several lawyers who said that bar practice licences can only be revoked by the Pakistan Bar Council or provincial bar councils.

“If we can shake the corridors of power to have the honourable chief justice of Pakistan reinstated, then we can do the same to have him removed,” said Dera Ghazi Khan Bar Association President Malik Afzal. Lawyers in the city also organised a protest camp outside the Aiwan-e-Adl to record their protest.

Awan, who relinquished his post as law minister to represent the federation in the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference case, was first served a contempt notice by the SC over a controversial press conference he addressed on the Memogate scandal. He reacted by reciting sardonic poetry but an 11-member bench of the apex court found no humour in his poetic jibes at the judiciary, and temporarily suspended his licence for “attempting to ridicule the court.”

Protesters, who carried slogans saying ‘adliya gardi na manzoor’, pledged support for Awan and said the Supreme Court must “stay within its limits”.

“Suspension of Awan’s licence is proof that the Supreme Court judges have forgotten the constitution of Pakistan,” said lawyer Behraam Buzdar.

“The protocol is that the court should have made a recommendation to the Pakistan Bar Council or the Punjab Bar Council, who would then suspend the licence,” Tahir Abdullah Qaiserani, DG Khan Bar Association’s general secretary, said. “If the chief justice himself wants to take such steps, then bar councils across the country should be dissolved.”

Advocate Ghulam Fareed Jatoi said if the superior judiciary will not respect the average lawyer, it will not receive any respect in return.

The lawyers said they will continue to organise protests in southern Punjab until Awan’s licence suspension is revoked. Agitation camps will also be organised before courts all over Pakistan, they said.

Updated from Print Edition (below):

Rallying cry: Lawyers protest Awan’s licence suspension  

Lawyers from southern Punjab, incensed over the suspension of former law minister Babar Awan’s licence, organised a protest in Dera Ghazi Khan on Wednesday, saying the Supreme Court had overstepped its jurisdiction.

Strong statements, bordering on contempt, were made by several lawyers who said that bar practice licences can only be revoked by the Pakistan Bar Council or provincial bar councils.

“If we can shake the corridors of power to have the chief justice reinstated, then we can do the same to have him removed,” said DG Khan Bar Association president Malik Afzal. Lawyers in the city also organised a protest camp outside the Aiwan-e-Adl.

Awan, who relinquished his post as law minister to represent the federation in the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reference case, was first served a contempt notice by the SC over a controversial press conference he addressed on the Memogate scandal.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2012.