KP lawyers demand across-the-board accountability

PESHAWAR: The lawyers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here Friday termed the Supreme Court verdict disqualifying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and filing of references against his family members a unique one and demanded that the process of accountability should be across-the-board.

Talking to The News after the Supreme Court verdict, Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) President Arbab Muhammad Usman said that it was a unique judgement and initiative of the Supreme Court. However, he said the apex court should now carry on accountability across-the-board and decide all the pending cases without further delay, be it against politicians or other government officials.

“This decision will establish a system of strong accountability for everyone, whether a ruler or common citizen,” he said, adding that such decisions would promote a sense of accountability in the country.

However, he pointed out that formation of implementation benches for the court decisions showed that the Supreme Court had no trust in the institutions.

“The apex court should also take action against those institutions that failed to perform duty against corruption,” the PHCBA president argued.

Fazal Wahid, president Peshawar District Bar Association (PBA), stated that the apex court should now decide the pending cases of corruption and misuse of power against others too.

Former PHCBA secretary general Aminur Rehman Yousafzai also hailed the decision. “I think the Supreme Court considered the JIT report to be the first information report against the prime minister and others including his family members,” he remarked. He added that Pakistan could be purged of corruption if the apex court continued this process impartially.

“This decision is not good for the democratic system in the country. For the first time, a conviction was announced before proving the charges in the inquiry report,” stated Muhammad Sareer Khan, vice chairman of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council. He added that it was his personal view, not that of the Bar Council.     

On the other hand, the Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF) affiliated with the PTI celebrated the Supreme Court decision by distributing sweets. The ILF members headed by acting president Fazal Maula also raised slogans of “Go Nawaz Go” and in favour of PTI chief Imran Khan after the Supreme Court verdict.