SCBA condemns manner of arresting ex-PM

Urges govt to refrain from using state institutions as tools for political persecution

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court Bar Association on Tuesday strongly condemned the manner in which former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court that sparked widespread concerns regarding the state of democracy and rule of law in the country.

According to a statement issued by the SCBA, President Barrister Abid S Zuberi and Secretary Muqtedir Akhtar Shabbir urged the “government and law enforcement agencies to uphold the rule of law, adhere to the principles of democracy, and provide a fair and unbiased judicial process to the former prime minister and refrain from using state institutions as tools for political persecution and instead focus on fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect for human rights and law.”

They said that they stand with the rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and independence of the institutions.

“The arrest, which occurred from inside the premises of the Islamabad High Court, has raised serious questions about the respect for fundamental rights and the impartiality of NAB (National Accountability Bureau)/law enforcement agencies.”

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They also condemned the assault and torture perpetrated by the law enforcement agencies on lawyers during the entire episode and violated the sanctity of the court.

The SCBA denounced “this arrest from the court premises in the strongest possible terms over the charges that are widely perceived as politically motivated”.

They said that such arrest represented a clear infringement of the principles of democracy, freedom of expression, and the right to dissent.

“Being a citizen of this country, ones rights are protected under Article 4 read with articles 9, 10-A, 14 and 19 of the Constitution,” they opined.

They also condemned the violence being perpetrated and asserted that it was a fundamental right to a peaceful protest but no one should take the law in their hands.