Lawyers demand elections on time

A lawyers’ convention has demanded holding elections within 90 days of the dissolution of assemblies while condemning trials of civilians in military courts and blatant violation of court order.

“It is imperative to ensure that elections are conducted within the constitutionally prescribed timeframe of 90 days of the dissolution of assemblies. It is pledged that lawyers will refrain [authorities] from [taking] any unconstitutional actions in this regard,” said a resolution issued after the convention.

The All Pakistan Lawyers Convention to Protect, Defend and Preserve, the Constitution, Rule of Law and Human Rights was held in Islamabad on Thursday under the auspices of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Thursday.

“The Constitutional timelines for holding of general elections are being disregarded and ignored by the institutions created and established by the Constitution itself for the purpose thus creating a constitutional void and chaos.

“No caretaker government can go beyond 90 days and becomes unconstitutional and illegal thereafter. The caretaker government of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have already become unconstitutional and are liable to be removed,” it said.

Read PBC opposes delay in elections

The resolution said Pakistan Was passing through one of the most crucial periods in its constitutional and political history when the constitutional dispensation was under serious threat and judicial verdicts were being trampled upon.

“There is an ongoing blatant disregard for principles of justice, the authority of courts and compliance with judges’ orders. The law enforcement agencies and institutions are themselves violating and undermining the human rights and civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.”

It said the lawyers are deeply concerned and condemn the recent hike in prices of electricity and petrol along with the repeated arrests of political leaders and dissenting voices, recognizing these actions as an abuse of power and political victimization.

It said the armed forces and their officials of all ranks, being creation of the Constitution, are bound to act strictly in accordance with the constitution and the law framed thereunder.

The convention also vehemently opposed the trial of the May 9 rioter in military courts.

It said every citizen is entitled to fair trial and due process before the court established by the Constitution and trial of civilians in military courts is a complete negation of fair trial, due process and fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

It also urged the government and its institutions not to allow inducing, pressuring or influencing any judge or obtaining the desired judicial verdicts and those found attempting to do so should be strictly punished under the law.”

Addressing the participants of the convention, famous lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan said the authority to determine the date of general elections rests with the President of the country.

Addressing himself to Chief Justice Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Ahsan urged him to decide the important cases including the pleas challenging court martial of civilians before his retirement next week.

“Very few people get the opportunity to make historic decisions. The world should know who stands with Justice Cornelius and who stands with Justice Munir,” he said.

Advocate Shoaib Shaheen said today no one could definitively say when the general elections will be held in the country. He lamented that the Constitution and law are being defied with impunity.

"The Constitution is being violated openly, and no one seems to care. Today, the country has been brought to a point where there are only two classes, the elite and the common people," he said.