LHCBA calls for Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s meeting to pick judges to be cancelled immediately
LAHORE, FEB 2 /DNA/ – Lawyers across the country have announced plans to march towards Islamabad on February 10 in protest against the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
The decision was made during a convention organised by the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), where LHCBA President Asad Manzoor Butt presented the convention’s declaration.
Butt said that legal professionals nationwide demand a full court hearing on the matter, insisting that Supreme Court proceedings be broadcast live.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s (JCP) meeting, to be held on February 10, should be cancelled immediately, he demanded and said no new appointments should be made until the case on 26th Amendment is decided, adding that the senior most judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) should be made its chief justice.
“We condemn the suspension of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Secretary Salman Mansoor. We condemn the amendment to the Peca [Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act]. All lawyers fully support the struggle of journalists,” he stated.
LHCBA former president Rabia Bajwa said that there was a clear division among lawyers — one faction stood with the powers that be, while the other stood with the Constitution — and “we are with the faction standing with the Constitution and law.
“We salute the brave judges of the IHC; we condemned the action against SCBA Secretary Salman Mansoor who stood up to protect the Constitution,” she added.
Senator Hamid Khan said that the lawyers’ movement had started and it would sweep away the 26th Amendment. “Our struggle is moving forward. Lawyers’ organisations have filed petitions against the 26th Amendment. The full court consisting of the current 16 judges should hear these petitions,” he demanded.
