Lahore lawyers convention marred by scuffle, mismanagement

SCBA, LHCBA demand PM’s resignation in seven days, removal of NAB chief, FIA DG

LAHORE: During the All Pakistan Lawyers’ Convention at the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Saturday, a scuffle broke out between lawyers when a group of lawyers made an attempt to sabotage the event.

As the convention on the Panamagate verdict was due to be held at 2pm, a group of lawyers started protesting against the event before time, resulting in a scuffle between the two groups. The protesting lawyers also broke windowpanes of the hall where the event was to be organised. They chanted slogans against the convention.

The agitating Lawyers Wing allegedly locked up Supreme Court Bar President Rasheed A Razvi, along with other lawyers, inside the library of the bar. However, the LHCBA office-bearers broke the locks and freed him. They also manhandled SCBA Secretary Aftab Bajwa on the occasion.

The supporters of the PML-N chanted slogans against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and their rival lawyers chanted slogans against the PML-N. The bar resounded with slogans of ‘Go Nawaz go’ and ‘Ro Imran ro’. The situation came under control after the police took charge of the place. LHCBA President Ch Zulfiqar Ali termed the incident regrettable.

Meanwhile, the participant lawyers took a rally to The Mall and blocked the road, though the security had asked them to remain within the premises of the bar for security reasons.

Deputy attorney generals, assistant attorney generals, additional and assistant advocate generals and legal advisors to different government departments participated in the meeting. 

Later, All Pakistan Lawyers’ Representative Convention was held and it gave seven days to Nawaz Sharif to step down as the prime minister; otherwise, a countrywide protest movement would be launched against him.

The convention also demanded removal of the NAB chairman and FIA director general, saying that the SC had already passed strictures against them.

The convention, presided over by Supreme Court Bar Association President Justice (retd) Rasheed A Rizvi, set May 27 as the deadline for the prime minister to resign and join JIT investigation into the Panama leaks.

The convention, represented by president and secretaries of various bar associations of the country, held in its joint-communiqué that after SC’s verdict of April 20 wherein none of the judges gave clean-chit to the prime minister on the issue of money trail for the purchase of expensive apartments in London, has required Nawaz Sharif to join investigation and the high-moral ground as the law demands, the PM should disassociate himself from the office and appear before the JIT.

Earlier, the convention issued a nine-point declaration and vowed to continue their movement against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif till his resignation and joining of JIT.

In the first point, it held that comprehensive accountability be lodged against all public officials who have indulged in financial improprieties through off shore companies or otherwise.

In the second, it stated that Nawaz Sharif should disassociate himself from Prime Minister Office for fair and independent inquiry against him by JIT.

In the third point, it asserted that in case he fails to resigns, lawyers would launch a countrywide movement to ensure his resignation.

The forth point said that all bars of the country shall hoist black flags and establish protest camps at their premises on every Thursday during the holy month of Ramazan.

The fifth point was that NAB chairman and FIA DG be immediately removed from their offices because the SC in its judgments has already passed strictures against them.

In the sixth point, National Action Committee (NAC) was formed which would be headed by SCBA President Khursheed A Rizvi and consisted of representative of various bars including Islamabad High Court Bar and Rawalpindi bar, Sahiwal, Baluchistan High Court Bar, Singh High Court Bar and Peshawar High Court and many other district bars.

The declaration said that secretaries of both SCBA and LHCBA would be the secretaries of NAC. In the eighth point, it said that NAC chairman would hold meeting after month of Ramazan to decide further steps and measures for lawyers’ movement against corruption and for resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The 9th point strongly condemned the trouble created by the alleged supporters of the PML-N at the saying that “Convention condemns the hooliganism, committed by the goons.

The house said that it firmly believes in supremacy of law and vows to maintain democratic setup in the country. The house said that corruption has become a deep-rooted issue of the state which is badly damaging it from the inside but the lawyers would continue their struggle to fight against it.

Talking to the media after the incident, the Supreme Court Bar president Rizvi asserted that the lawyers’ convention will be held and the premier has to step down.