ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) have rejected the presidential reference filed against SC Justice Qazi Faez Isa, and vowed to launch a nationwide protest against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s decision to move against the judges.
Addressing a press conference, PBC Vice Chairman Amjad Shah said the lawyers’ body had unanimously disapproved the reference against Justice Isa and SHC Justice KK Agha and demanded the resignation of Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem.
Shah said a show cause notice has also been issued to the law minister, asking why his membership should not be suspended for aiding the filing of the reference against the honourable judges.
Shah said that the apex body of lawyers is endorsing the strike scheduled for June 14 while a committee has been formed to oversee the strike and related affairs.
Meanwhile, in a separate press conference, SCBA President Amanullah Kanrani reiterated that there will be a nationwide protest on July 14 – the day when the reference is taken up for hearing – and the legal fraternity will burn copies of the reference as a protest at the entrance of the apex court.
Kanrani alleged that the reference against the only SC judge from Balochistan was based on discrimination. “It is a tactic to deprive Balochistan of a future chief justice,” he claimed.
He also informed journalists that a large number of lawyers will gather on Thursday and leave for Islamabad where they plan to stage a sit-in at the high court.
Advocate Rajib Bulaidi added that the lawyers who held a press conference earlier have been suspended for illegally acquiring an Islamabad High Court (IHC) licence to practice law.
Bulaidi also said that Quetta’s lawyers are with the bar council and will offer all their support.
