Legal boycott: Black Day observed at Karachi’s courts

Lawyers condemn imposition of emergency, sacking of judges in 2007

KARACHI: The legal fraternity observed a ‘Black Day’ on Wednesday to condemn the promulgation of emergency and sacking of judges of the apex judiciary by then dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007.

The lawyers boycotted legal proceedings at the Sindh High Court (SHC) and the subordinate judiciary in the city. They did not show up to plead their cases at the SHC, the subordinate courts and special tribunals and, instead, held separate general body meetings, where acts of November 3 were condemned.

Newly elected Supreme Court Bar Association president Justice (retd) Rasheed A Razvi had given a call for observing November 3 as Black Day across the country to commemorate the legal fraternity’s struggle for independence of the judiciary and restoration of the sacked judges.

Addressing a general body meeting, Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) president Khalid Javed said his association, along with the entire legal community, had always fought for rule of law and independence of the judiciary in Pakistan. He said that it was the joint struggle of the lawyers’ community, civil society, media and all other activists, which resulted in the restoration of judges and civilian rule in the country.

“This august house is of the considered view that restoration of the judges is merely a step towards restoration of independence of judiciary and rule of law,” read a unanimously passed resolution. “This association is of the strong belief that unless corruption and incompetency are eradicated from the judiciary, its independence cannot be fully secured.”

The members recalled that due to the efforts of the SHCBA, all the unconstitutional acts of November 3, 2007, were reversed - provisional constitutional order was declared unconstitutional and the doctrine of necessity was buried through the decision of the Supreme Court dated July 31, 2009.

The association appreciated all the judges, lawyers, journalists, political activists and members of civil society, who bravely resisted such extra-constitutional measures and rendered great sacrifices in ensuring the return of democracy and an independent judiciary of the country.

They also reiterated their commitment to maintain the independence of the bar and continue the struggle for an independent judiciary, strengthening of constitutionalism and rule of law.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2016.