Contempt of court bill: Bar associations divided over strike call

Peshawar High Court Bar Association refuses to boycott court proceedings.

PESHAWAR:

Differences emerged between bar associations in Peshawar after a strike call against the contempt of court bill.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council (KPBC) announced to boycott  courts on Thursday to protest the new bill in solidarity with the apex court. However, the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) has refused to comply.

The press release stated that the amendments were meant to give cover to the president and the prime minister and said they were discriminatory and contradictory to the law.

The amendments will provide relief to some influential people and not to the general public, it said.

“The KPBC condemns the bill and announces boycott from court appearances on Thursday to show solidarity with the judiciary.

Lawyers will not appear before the court,” the statement said.  However, despite the KPBC’s call, the PHCBA was reluctant to stay away from the court and refused to boycott court proceedings. PHCBA’s General- Secretary Qazi Jawad said: “We have trust in the courts and admit that the KPBC is an authority and can call for a strike, but we will not comply with it.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2012.