ISLAMABAD – A divide was witnessed among members of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) over the Supreme Court’s decision of framing contempt charge against the nine PCO judges, defying the apex court’s November 3, 2007, order.
Some of the association’s members welcomed the SCBA members and called it historic, while others, including its president Asma Jehangir, opposed the verdict, considering it contrary to the constitutional provisions. A majority of the SCBA members in its executive committee meeting held here on Thursday said the judgment reflected that nobody was above the law and the constitution.
The meeting was attended among others by SCBA Vice President KA Wahab, Additional Secretary Saleheen Mughal and Finance Secretary Sanaullah Zahid. The members were of the view that every individual who supported dictatorship should be brought to justice.
“The sacrifices rendered by lawyers, civil society, media and other people could not be defeated,” they maintained.
They said the judges who took oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) had supported the dictatorship and they were not eligible for serving as judges, especially when they were prevented by a seven-member bench from taking oath under the PCO. The members asked their president Asma Jahangir to refrain from passing any derogatory remarks against the apex court’s judgment.
