LHCBA condemns PML-N leaders’ remarks against judiciary

Says lawyers will stand by judges at all cost

RAWALPINDI: Members of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Rawalpindi, at a meeting held on Wednesday, condemned leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for making derogatory statements against the superior judiciary.

LHCBA President Zafar Mahmood Mughal said that the lawyers decided that they would not tolerate disgrace of the judiciary and would stand with the judges in difficult times.

According to an LHCBA press release the lawyers said that the judiciary was responsible for providing justice to the people. They said that if the judiciary was pressured by politicians, the lawyers would stand up for their defence.

“The lawyers will act as security guards of the judiciary,” LHCBA president said.

The press release further stated that lawyers present in the meeting were unanimous that people hurling threats at serving judges of the Supreme Court, their families, or their supporters would have to first pass through the legal fraternity.

In a democratic society, judiciary plays an important role but in Pakistan other institutions are trying to undermine the role of higher judiciary.

Meanwhile, Advocate Raja Tahir Arif, a lawyer associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) filed an application under section 22-A of criminal procedure code with an additional sessions judge for registration of a criminal case against PML-N Senator Nehal Hashmi.

Aditional Ssessions Judge Atta Rabbani, after hearing plea of Advocate Arif, issued notice to SHO Civil Lines asking for his written comments till June 12.

Advocate Arif, who is the deputy chairman of PTI in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, in his plea stated that he filed a complaint with Civil Lines police for registration of case against Hashmi for threatening judges of the Supreme Court and their families but the police refused to register the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2017.