LAHORE: The sanctity of the Supreme Court of Pakistan was violated last week when a group of lawyers raised slogans within its premises. These individuals had no business being there and sloganeering. By their actions, they tried to humiliate the prime minister’s lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, who by his own actions has shown that he has the courage and the will to stand up to a military dictator. He did this time and again when the Supreme Court was led by Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and when most other lawyers had no issue with the-then military government. These lawyers should also be reminded that it was in fact Aitzaz who defended Mukhtar Mai.
The fact is that every citizen of Pakistan has a right to be represented by a lawyer of his choice. Those who are raising issues of morality and questioning Aitzaz for defending a government tainted with allegations of corruption have no hesitation is defending clients who have been accused of things like defrauding the national exchequer.
The sanctity of the apex court was also violated the same day by a handful of jiyalas, who managed to get inside and chant pro-PPP slogans. If the lawyers who raised slogans against Aitzaz Ahsan have no political motive than they must put up by defending ordinary Pakistanis, who otherwise would not be able to pay for the services of a lawyer.
Malik Tariq Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2012.
