ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Qazi Muhammad Anwar on Tuesday returned a cheque of Rs 1 million to Federal Law Minister Babar Awan following a strong protest by bar members, who called it an attempt to divide the lawyers.
The SCBA president also banned Awan’s entry into bar premises, saying that the grant of Rs 4 million offered by the law minister for the uplift of the bar library would not be accepted. The law minister had given the Rs 1 million cheque to the SCBA president on Monday for the welfare of bar employees and announced Rs 4 million for the uplift of the SCBA library.
Addressing a news conference at the Supreme Court, Anwar said Awan had attempted to divide the lawyers through the grant. He said the law minister had attempted to politicise the goodwill gesture given to him by the bar on Monday upon his arrival to the bar office, thus his cheque was being returned.
The SCBA president said a meeting had been called on October 22, in which a resolution will be passed to ban the entry of all ministers into bar premises. On Monday, Awan had handed over 100 copies of the constitution to Anwar.
Talking to reporters later, Anwar had said, “We consider Babar Awan our member.” Awan said the Law Ministry was ready to sit with the Pakistan Bar Council and the SCBA to explore ways for the supremacy of law and constitution.
