Lanjar praises lawyers for making sacrifices for supremacy of constitution

Sindh Law minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar inaugurated a new room of the Sindh Bar Council in Karachi on Wednesday.

Addressing the ceremony, he said the bar association holds the status of “a parent for us, and that’s what brought me here today”.

The lawyers have played an important role in building the country, and whenever democracy needed blood, lawyers gave blood, he added.

Lanjar remarked that the Karachi Bar and lawyers have made sacrifices for the supremacy of the Constitution, and that the lawyers may have political affiliations but black coats belong only to the bar.

He said he had seen the struggle of lawyers in the movement to restore the judiciary. Lawyers should get internships in private firms or government institutions, he said and announced he would give forward recommendations if the Karachi Bar gives suggestions, he said.

The law minister said land allocation requests for the Karachi Bar and Sindh High Court Bar have been approved, while another recommendation would be made to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for the payment of the land allotment fees.

He acknowledged the lawyers’ community struggle and announced that the arms licences had been also approved for the lawyers’ self-defence to meet their longstanding demand. “The lawyers played a crucial role in reshaping and restoring the democracy in Pakistan.”

Lanjar praised the Karachi Bar’s strength and resilience, citing their proactive and most effective role during the judges’ restoration movement in recent times. He said the lawyers should keep political affiliations aside, as their primary allegiance is and should be to the bar. He added that serious efforts are being made to provide plots to all Karachi Bar members.

Officials said Karachi Bar President Amir Warraich presented an Ajrak and a cap to the law minister as a token of respect and appreciation.

The event was attended by the prosecutor general, additional advocate general, district judges of Karachi, and the representatives of the legal fraternity.