Lawyers boycott courts over tweaks

Bar associations in Sindh and Punjab pay tribute to Justices Shah, Minallah

KARACHI/LAHORE:

Lawyers in Sindh on Friday boycotted courts in protest against the promulgation of the 27th Constitutional Amendment that paved the way for formation of the Federal Constitutional Court and was followed by resignation of two Supreme Court judges.

The Karachi Bar Association (KBA) observed a strike at Karachi's City Court and lawyers boycotted court proceedings. According to a KBA statement, the strike was linked to the 27th amendment and the resignations of Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah.

Lawyers shut the gates of the City Court. They said more judges were going to resign in protest and lawyers are not alone in opposing this amendment. They also vowed to have the Prevention of Electronic Crime (PECA) Act, 2016 repealed.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) General Secretary Mirza Sarfaraz and KBA Secretary Rehman Korejo said the 27th amendment had effectively abolished the Supreme Court.

"Lawyers across the country are observing a strike against this amendment, and they also intend to have the PECA Act repealed," he said.

Sarfaraz said the amendments are clearly targeted and are meant to undermine the judiciary.

"The earlier 26th Amendment created constitutional benches yet failed to ensure access to justice. Now a Federal Constitutional Court has been formed, and the Supreme Court's powers have been abolished," he said.

He claimed that on Friday even Sindh High Court judges did not hear any constitutional petitions as their jurisdiction had been taken away.

KBA Secretary Rehman Korejo said politicians are handed a piece of paper and follow it blindly. This amendment is against democracy, Islamic values, and constitutional traditions.

He said It appears that favoured judges are being appointed to the new court, meaning justice will now be delivered according to the wishes of the rulers. "Lawyers will never accept this. A nationwide strike is taking place today against the 27th Amendment," he said.

Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) held a joint emergency meeting at Aiwan-e-Adl, declaring the day as a "Black Day" in protest against the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

Bar leaders strongly criticized the amendment, alleging that it undermines judicial independence and was introduced to control judges.

Senior lawyer Ishtiaq A Khan said many judges from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Sindh, and Lahore High Court (LHC) were also going to resign. "Neither the 26th Amendment will survive, nor the 27th, nor this Form-47-created government," he said.

He said appointing Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan as the chief justice of the Federal Constitutional Court had brought disgrace. "The Constitution has been given a funeral. The Supreme Court has been effectively laid to rest," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, LHCB President Asif Noswana paid tribute to former prime minister Imran Khan — "the man of courage who has spent two and a half years in jail".

He said both the president and prime minister are beneficiaries of this constitutional amendment. They have shattered the Supreme Court. There is only one fear — that no judge should give relief to the founder of PTI. Neither the 26th nor the 27th Amendment will remain."

He announced that the lawyers' movement will continue until objectives are achieved. He also paid tribute to Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah. "The LHCB and Lahore Bar welcome you," he said.

LBA President Mubashir Rehman in his speech said a general house meeting will be held on Thursday, followed by a rally, adding that bar invites Justice Shah and Minallah to address the members. "All judges should resign and step outside. We announce a complete boycott of the Federal Constitutional Court," he said.

He said the Constitution has been violated, and the lawyers will oppose it.

"It is widely said that this amendment was introduced to control judges. These arbitrary actions were carried out by the establishment. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah refused to take dictation, and that caused discomfort to many.

"How will this system function when the Constitution has been wrecked? They want to end democracy, the legal profession, and journalism," he said.