Lawyers condemn talk of governor’s rule

PBC, SCBA warn such an undemocratic action will spread chaos

ISLAMABAD:

Top lawyer bodies of the country vehemently condemned on Friday the statement of Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid about imposition of governor’s rule in Sindh, warning that any such move would spread chaos and harm the democratic process.

In separate statements, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) said that the governor’s rule could not be imposed on mere allegations of horse-trading, adding that the legal fraternity would resist such an undemocratic move.

“The imposition of the governor's rule in Sindh could lead to chaos in the country. The governor's rule will harm the democratic process,” the PBC said in its statement. “The people and the legal community will go to great lengths to stop such an undemocratic move,” it added.

In a separate statement, the SCBA President Ahsan Bhoon condemned the statement about imposing governor's rule in Sindh, warning that the governor's rule would be disastrous amid the worsening political situation in the country.

Read: PPP, PTI trade barbs over governor’s rule in Sindh

He said that all the bar councils had strongly opposed undemocratic measures by the government. “Even the talk of governor rule is likely to create instability in the country. The SCBA will resist undemocratic actions like the governor’s rule in Sindh,” he added.

Bhoon advised the prime minister to be wary of his aides who were giving him “the wrong advices”. He said that a no-confidence motion was a constitutional process, while the imposition of governor's rule would increase political tensions.

The PBC and the SCBA statements came after Rashid said on Thursday he had advised Prime Minister Imran Khan to impose governor’s rule in Sindh. His suggestion followed reports that around two dozen dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) National Assembly members were staying at the Sindh House.