PBC to boycott reference in honour of CJ Khawaja

LAHORE: Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has announced boycotting the reference, dinner and other farewell functions to be held in honour of Chief Justice Jawwad S Khawaja on his retirement. PBC Vice Chairman Azam Nazir Tarar said on Saturday a decision in this regard was made at PBC Executive Committee meeting in Lahore. He said chief justice’s behaviour with senior lawyers of the country was insulting, which was against the traditions of the bench-bar relationship. He said after the death of Hafeez Pirzada, Barrister Zafar Ali appointed Asma Jahangir as his lawyer in his case. Asma Jahangir is abroad currently. Senior lawyers requested the chief justice to adjourn the case hearing for two days so that the new counsel could come back and take over the case. But the chief justice not only refused to adjourn the hearing but also forced Barrister Zafar Ali to complete his arguments. He said this behaviour was a hurdle in better relationship between the bench and the bar. That’s why, he added, the PBC would not attend the farewell reference being held in honour of the outgoing chief justice.