LAHORE: The lawyers’ movement for the restoration of judiciary launched after the November 3, 2007 steps taken by former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf was based on a strong desire for overhauling the justice system of the country and the purpose is yet to be achieved fully, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Asma Jahangir said on Tuesday.
Asma made these comments while addressing lawyers at the general house meeting of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) held in connection with the Black Day observed to condemn Musharraf’s November 3 steps against the judiciary.
“We wanted independence of the judiciary and the movement was not just for some judges to get back their jobs after being sacked by the military dictator. We are and we will remain with the judiciary as long as it is serving justice to the people,” she said.
She said the lawyers would always stand against martial law and all unconstitutional steps of the rulers or anyone else for that matter.
Asma expressed her resolve to restore the lost democratic norms and traditions of the country adding that she would also ensure unity amongst the lawyers’ community of the country. She said lawyers would support only support that parliament which provided remedies to the problems of the masses. Asma said that lawyers would religiously guard the independence of judiciary and anyone working against it would be countered and repelled with full force.
Meanwhile, lawyers throughout the country observed November 3 as Black Day to condemn Musharraf’s action on the same date in 2007, when he sacked Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary along with 60 other judges of the Supreme Court through promulgating the Provisional Constitutional Order and declaring a state of emergency in the country.
On the joint call of the SCBA, the Punjab Bar Council and the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), lawyers across the country raised black flags at the respective bar premises in addition to holding protest meetings. During the protests, they denounced Musharraf’s November 3 steps and passed resolutions to actively seek his trial for high treason.
The meeting passed a resolution to unanimously demand Musharraf’s trial under Article 6 of the constitution on the charges of subversion of the constitution and violation of his oath taken in his capacity as the army chief, and for ordering the killing of innocent people.
The meeting also demanded the immediate arrest and punishment of those police officials who had taken part in subjects Lahore’s lawyers to torture on November 5, 2007 when they were protesting the November 3 steps.
