Courts must not threaten lawyers: Asma Jehangir

Commission said Jehangir be made ineligible for law practice; Jehangir says courts shouldn't threat lawyers.

Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and noted human rights activist, Asma Jahangir has reacted strongly towards a news item appearing in a section of the press quoting the memo commission warning that she could be made ineligible for law practice on her comment to the press regarding the recording of evidence of former ambassador to US Husain Haqqani.

In a press release, Jehangir said that courts must not threat lawyers for valid opinions that they hold. She added her law practice was not granted to her in a “lottery” which could be grabbed from her through any threats.

The lawyer said that there was no law that allowed a commission to suspend her license and her grievance had precisely been that judges must speak through their judgements and within the parameter of the law.

“Which law grants judges the power to suspend people’s livelihoods because of their legitimate comments on the procedure of a commission?” she questioned.

She also challenged Advocate Bhutta to advise his clients to file contempt proceedings against her rather than making pleas before the commission without filing any such petition.

She said she was prepared to defend herself but would not be admonished into losing her right of free expression.