United stand: Bar association passes unanimous resolution in support of CJP

PHCBA President Abdul Latif Afridi says Aitzaz Ahsan and Zahid Bukhari will not be prohibited entry.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) has passed a unanimous resolution in support of the judiciary and the chief justice of Pakistan. 

At an address at the Peshawar High Court, President Abdul Latif Afridi said there should be a comprehensive inquiry into the Arsalan Iftikhar corruption scandal and vowed to continue their struggle for the supremacy of law.

The PHCBA will stand by the chief justice of Pakistan, stand by the judiciary, struggle for the supremacy of law and discourage every conspiracy against the judiciary at all costs, Afridi said, while he welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict.

Last week, the court directed the attorney general to proceed according to the law and bring all culprits to book, including Malik Riaz, his son-in-law Salman Ali Khan and Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, for attempting to influence the judiciary.

Latif, however, said Aitzaz Ahsan and Zahid Bukhari will not be prohibited entry to the PHCBA, adding that to do so is against professional ethics.

Most of the speakers said the government and secret agencies were conspiring against the Supreme Court for its cases against high-ranking government and military officials for alleged corruption. They added that “revenge” was being taken over the missing persons case.

“Taliban and militancy are not the real problems in the country, but the people sitting in GHQ and Parliament who are defaming the judiciary,” said Advocate Ghulam Nabi.

He said it’s not only military and government officials, but even anchorpersons of different television channels that are part of the “plot”.

Barrister Bacha said the London Metropolitan Police should be part of the probe. We will not accept the inquiry made by corrupt agencies, he added.

PTI protest

As part of its countrywide rally in favour of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf provincial leaders and Insaf Youth wing organised protests in busy areas of Peshawar.

The main rally started near Government High School-1 and marched towards Chowk Yadgar where other small rallies converged. The rally was led by PTI’s former provincial president Asad Qaisar.

(With additional reporting by Hassan Ali in Peshawar)