Lawyers at it again
An action taken in an agitated state of mind is never sound. In recent years, lawyers in our country sometimes have lost patience and reason and done things that they later realised were wrong and harmful to the entire society. To err, they say is human, and to realise one’s error is wisdom. To forgive is humane. We are all humans and prone to committing mistakes; however, at the same time God has bestowed on all of us the faculty of reason to improve ourselves. It is time that all those concerned with the rising trend of violence sat together and had in-depth and informed discussions to stem the rot. This we say with total impartiality in the sad happenings that took place at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) yesterday and most respectfully urge the relevant quarters to have brainstorming sessions with cool minds in order to set things right. It does not matter who did what, rather the need of the hour is to take corrective measures without any further delay. Such kind of repeated violence brings a bad name to the whole country. Now is the time to reverse the extremely harmful process. It is time to realise the significance of the social contract under which we live or try to live an orderly, smooth and peaceful life. Philosopher Rousseau was the first to formulate the concept of a social contract. Under this contract, people surrender some of their rights to the state and in return the state ensures them protection of life with dignity, liberty and property. The social contract is coming increasingly under threat and would likely tear apart the social fabric. This is a grave situation that threatens us all irrespective of class and profession. It is survival of all or survival of none.
Yesterday, a group of lawyers reportedly ransacked the chamber of IHC Chief Justice during a protest against the demolition of their allegedly illegal chambers. A day earlier, the Capital Development Authority demolished the lawyers’ chambers. The whole episode has lowered our heads in shame.
There is no point in muck-racking as to who did what. The deterioration should have been nipped in the bud. However, it is still not too late.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2021.
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