New PBC leaders for constructive criticism

There has been a change in the leadership of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC)—the highest elected body of lawyers in Pakistan—with Riazat Ali elected as its vice chairman and Farooq Naek as the chairman of its executive committee.

The PBC chairman, Mansoor Usman Awan, presided over a meeting of the bar council in the Supreme Court Building on Monday. At the meeting, both the officials were elected unopposed.

Later talking to the media, Riazat Ali said judges’ decisions should be criticized but they should not be ridiculed. He said the upcoming general elections will be held on February 8. ”Our task is to resolve lawyers' issues,” he said.

Farooq H Naek mentioned that due to the shortage of judges in the Supreme Court, the number of pending cases is increasing.

He suggested that to reduce the number of pending cases, there should either be a discouragement of frivolous cases or an increase in the number of judges. “If political cases are given priority then justice cannot be served to ordinary citizens,” he said.

Naek, who belongs to the PPP party and has served as the Senate chairman, said they will not engage in politics at the PBC and work for the betterment of lawyers.

He said the PBC cherishes media freedom but also believes that the press should criticize without using abusive language. “We are supporters of freedom of expression.”

He said in the past the Supreme Court endorsed the Doctrine of Necessity and endorsed martial laws. He said they do not want a repeat of the past.

Read: PTI refutes PBC, SCBA allegations

Talking with reference to the Supreme Court January 13 order that resulted in depriving the PTI of its iconic election symbol—cricket bat, Naek said if the PTI does not like the decision, it can seek its review.

Referring to the Supreme Court's January 13 order, which resulted in depriving the PTI of its iconic election symbol—cricket bat, Naek mentioned that if the PTI disagrees with the decision, it can seek a review.

"The Supreme Court's decision sets a positive path for political parties, ensuring that fake intra-party elections cannot take place."

The SC on January 13 upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling that the PTI’s intra-party elections of December 2 were held in violation of rules.

Former federal minister Azam Nazeer Tarar noted that when the Election Act, 2017 was being drafted, the parliament formed the largest committee of its history.

“When the Election Act, 2017 was being formed, the PTI had included these sections related to intra-party elections itself. At that time, it considered the chief election commissioner (CEC) as its friend but now it regards the CEC as its adversary,” he added.