Legal community in Karachi convention unites against govt’s constitutional amendment plans

Lawyers in Pakistan have threatened a nationwide protest against proposed amendments they deem unconstitutional.

Lawyers from across Pakistan have united in opposition to proposed constitutional amendments, threatening a nationwide protest movement if the government proceeds with the changes.

At an All Pakistan Lawyers Convention hosted by the Karachi Bar Association, leading figures from the legal community declared the proposed amendments unconstitutional and vowed to launch a countrywide movement against them.

The convention, held at Karachi’s city court, saw the participation of representatives from the Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association, and high courts from Lahore, Balochistan, and Peshawar.

Prominent figures included former Supreme Court Bar President Munir A. Malik, legal experts Hamid Khan and Abid Zuberi, and other lawyers.

However, representatives from the Sindh High Court Bar Association were notably absent.

During the event, Peshawar High Court Bar President Fida Gul strongly criticised the government's move to establish a federal constitutional court, warning that it could lead to a divided judiciary.

He questioned the rationale behind creating a separate court, suggesting it could be a step towards having two supreme courts.

Gul added that lawyers are prepared to shed blood, if necessary, to prevent the establishment of this court and any amendments that undermine the Constitution.

Lahore High Court Bar President Asad Manzoor Butt also condemned the proposed amendments, which include raising the retirement age of the chief justice from 60 to 65 years and extending the tenure of the Army Chief.

Butt called these moves unconstitutional and declared that lawyers across the country are ready to mobilise in protest.

Tensions briefly flared at the convention when the mention of Form 47 led to disagreements among attendees.

Members of the People's Lawyers Forum voiced opposition to the event, accusing the organisers of having a political agenda.

However, the general secretary of the Karachi Bar Association, Ikhtiyar Channa, clarified that the convention was not politically motivated but organised solely to address the concerns of the legal community.

Several speakers, including lawyer leader Ali Ahmad Kurd and member of the Pakistan Bar Council Mohammad Shafqat, voiced their concerns about the potential consequences of the proposed amendments.

They warned that while the changes may seem favourable to some now, they could have damaging effects in the future.

Shafqat directly addressed the Chief Justice of Pakistan, accusing him of pushing a personal agenda with these amendments, which he claimed were in direct conflict with the Constitution and the law.

Former federal law minister Barrister Shahida Jameel urged the legal community to proceed with caution, pointing out that multiple drafts of the proposed amendments have been circulated.

She expressed concern about the potential conflict between the constitutional court and the Supreme Court, emphasising the importance of transparency in any constitutional changes.

Barrister Shahida also criticised the method of appointment for the head of the constitutional court, which would reportedly be made by the President, calling it an unwelcome intervention in the judiciary.

The lawyers' convention concluded with a firm stance against the proposed amendments, with participants threatening to launch a countrywide protest if the government proceeds with the changes.

The legal community made it clear that they would not accept any amendments they deemed unconstitutional or imposed in secrecy.