Ban on entry: Lawyers slam base commander’s decision

LHCBA condemns decision by Karma airbase authorities of barring lawyers from entering the base.

RAWALPINDI:

The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Friday condemned the decision by Karma airbase authorities of stopping proceedings against three airmen accused of failing to protect aircrafts during an attack in 2012 and barring lawyers from entering the base.

In a meeting held on Friday, LHCBA President Sardar Taufiq Asif demanded senior PAF officials to take action against the base commander for stopping lawyers from entering the base.

A military court is hearing the case at the base. Colonel (retd) Inamur Rahim, the airmen’s defence counsel, asked Air Commodore Zaheer Babar for the investigation report conducted after the attack.

The commander asked the defense lawyer as to how he was allowed to enter the base and stopped the case’s proceedings. He also ordered security guards not to allow Rahim to enter the base next time.

Asif condemned the decision and said lawyers cannot be barred from disposing of their duties or entering any place in the name of the law.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2013.