In the wake of the release and subsequent re-arrest of political leadersfollowing their bail hearings, members of the legal community in Lahorehave called upon Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa to uphold thesupremacy of the law.
They emphasize that certain “powerful groups” have openly violated the lawwithout respect for its principles. The legal fraternity, along withpoliticians and columnists, convened at a seminar organized by the LahoreHigh Court Bar Association (LHCBA) titled “On human rights, PakistanConstitution, and the path ahead.”
The legal community equates this “disobedience” to an attempt to underminethe Constitution, citing instances where political party leaders werere-arrested after court-issued release orders. They also stress theimportance of transparent and fair elections for political stability.
Expressing their concerns, the lawyers state that the country is currentlymired in lawlessness, with a lack of adherence to constitutionalprovisions. They emphasize the need for the country to make progress byupholding the rule of law and ensuring its fair application to allcitizens.
Veteran lawyer Hamid Khan, speaking at the event, highlights that theConstitution of Pakistan explicitly guarantees freedom of speech as afundamental human right. He laments the restriction on exercising thisright in today’s politics and underscores that Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isamust ensure the law’s supremacy and fair application to rectify thesituation.
Regarding the selection of high court judges, the lawyer emphasizes thenecessity of a more robust mechanism to ensure merit and transparency intheir appointment, suggesting amendments to the rules of the judicialcommission.
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He further argues for amendments to the formation of the Supreme JudicialCouncil to prevent judges facing misconduct allegations from participatingin the council. This, he believes, will hold judges accountable and ensurethe principles of true justice.
Vice President LHCBA Rabia Bajwa contends that the events of May 9 wereused to disrupt the political process and calls for unity among thoseopposing the “powerful camp” responsible for these disruptions. Veteranlawyer Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan expresses his dismay at the disregard for theConstitution in today’s environment.
He points out that court orders to release politicians are followed bytheir re-arrest in new cases, and even the Supreme Court’s directive tohold provincial elections in Punjab on May 14 was ignored.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch stresses that political stabilitycan only be achieved through free and fair elections and calls for theestablishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9.The seminar also featured addresses from columnists Ayaz Mir, seniorjournalist Habib Akram, analyst Orya Jan Maqbool, and others.
