CM questions SC’s interpretation of 63(A)

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the parliamentarians, the prime minister, chief ministers, ministers, and judges take oath to protect, defend and preserve the constitution but the way the Supreme Court interpreted the Article 63 (A) was questionable. This he said while speaking at the oath taking ceremony of the newly-elected body of Karachi Bar Association (KBA) here at Jinnah Hall in the city courts. The CM was accompanied by his Advisor on Law Murtaza Wahab.

Shah said that being part of the parliament and executive, he has taken an oath to protect, defend and preserve the constitution twice - once in the parliament and then as chief minister. Similarly, the judges also take oaths for the purpose. But the interpretation the Supreme Court made of Article 63(A) of the constitution [that deals with the disqualification of legislators on the grounds of defection] has not been accepted by anyone.

"The review filed against the verdict has not been taken up almost from last year," he surprised.

The CM, in a lighter mood, shared a story with the lawyers saying, "A dispute was going on among people of different professions on the point that 'which profession was the oldest in the world'. A doctor said that Bibi Eve was created from the rib of Hazrat Adam (AS) which was a medical job - that means medicine was the oldest profession. The engineer disagreeing with the doctor said, creation of the earth, oceans and rivers proves that the engineering was the oldest profession. At this, a lawyer stood up and questioned who had created that chaos - it was a lawyer which means their profession was the oldest.

"Today, by accommodating the largest number of lawyers in a small hall of the city courts, the bar members have proved that their profession is the oldest in the world," Shah said.

The chief minister assured the bar members that his government would resolve their issues on priority basis. The chief minister warned the bar members to protect their Jinnah Hall. "People of a party have started attacking the building named after the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Murtaza Wahab speaking on the occasion said that Karachi Bar was the first bar where he had started his practice. "I feel proud to visit the Karachi Bar and feel happy to meet the bar members," he said.

Wahab said that the chief minister has approved Rs110 million for the insurance of the lawyers. He added that he would arrange a meeting of bar members with the chief minister to resolve their issues. Earlier, the chief minister administered oath to the newly-elected body of the bar and congratulated them.

The office bearers who took oath include president Amir Saleem, VP Mumtaz Mehdi, general secretary Waqar Alam, joint secretary Sabeeh Mahmood, treasurer Hashim Thebo, and librarian Asif Korejo as well as 11-member managing committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2023.