Legal community in celebratory mode

Say the decision will go a long way in the history of Pakistan

LAHORE: The lawyers’ community went into a celebratory mode after the Supreme Court handed down its verdict in Panamagate case and disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The lawyers embraced each other and took out a rally at Mall Road in Punjab’s provincial capital.

Earlier in the morning, the lawyers attended the courts but as the time of announcement drew near they gathered at Kiani Hall of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and other bar rooms in front of TV screens.

As channels flashed tickers unveiling the verdict, lawyers erupted in jubilation and shouted slogans in favour of the Supreme Court, terming the decision ‘historic’. They distributed sweets and garlanded each other.

Addressing a joint press conference, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) leaders said the SC announced a historic verdict. The bar leaders demanded that the authorities put names of all those involved in Panama case on the no-fly list.

According to a press release, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) also welcomed the ‘historic decision’.



PBC vice chairman Ahsan Bhoon and Executive Committee chairman Hafeez-ur-Rehman said the verdict would go a long way in strengthening the democratic system free from malpractices and corruption at the hands of ‘top ruling personalities’.

They commended the Supreme Court judges who unanimously gave their decision against a sitting PM for the first time in the country’s history.

“The whole legal fraternity rightfully took pride in independence of present judiciary and its functioning without fear or favour in accordance with the dictates of the Constitution,” they noted.



They also lauded the exemplary role of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in probing the matter ‘with dedication and sincerity of purpose’ in a bid to dig out the truth of the matter. “They assisted the apex court to a great extent in arriving at the just conclusion,” the statement noted.