Lawyers refuse to appear before LHC’s full bench

Legal fraternity to hold convention today to devise strategy

MULTAN: The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and Multan District Bar have unanimously announced to continue their strike and not to appear before the full bench of the Lahore High Court to clear their position.

The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has urged the LHCBA Multan bench president to appear before a full bench of the LHC to clear his position.



In this regard, a lawyers’ convention will be organised on August 21 (today), which would be attended by the district, tehsil and high court bar office bearers to set a joint strategy to tackle the arising situation. They were demanding an action against Lahore High Court (LHC) chief justice under Article 6 of the Constitution for the closure of Multan bench.

PBC Vice-Chairman Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon and Executive Committee Chairman Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhry said in a press statement, “Even the prime minister is not above the law, then how we can deviate from the same principle for a lawyer representative?”

On August 1, the LHC issued bailable arrest warrants for LHCBA (Multan bench) President Sher Zaman Qureshi for not appearing before the court for his alleged misbehaviour with a judge.

A larger bench, headed by LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, passed the order when Multan police said that Qureshi refused to accept the court orders. The PBC leaders asked Qureshi that it was imperative to pay respect to the court which was important for the smooth functioning of the system in the larger interest of the legal fraternity as well as the judiciary.

They expressed concern over the stalemate in view of hooliganism in and outside the courtroom of Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan in LHC Multan bench, and thereafter, in the court of LHC chief justice a couple of weeks back. They said the move not only tarnished the image of the legal fraternity but also endangered the system of dispensation of justice, creating and enhancing the void between the bench and the bar.



The statement added the members of the bar, especially their elected representatives, always strived for the rule of law and independence of the judiciary. They are supposed to demonstrate a responsible conduct for strengthening the system, it stated.

The PBC leaders also said the judiciary was also expected to acknowledge the contribution and sacrifices of members of the bar and give them due importance.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2017.