SCBA vows to support SC against PDM protest
Pakistan
Says deeply committed to upholding Constitution, integrity of judicial institutions
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has urged the ruling political alliance to refrain from staging a sit-in against the judiciary for allegedly favouring PTI chief Imran Khan, that may undermine the integrity and functioning of the judiciary.
To pre-empt any untoward incident, Supreme Court’s Registrar Ishrat Ali called a meeting of the Islamabad administration and police for a briefing on security arrangements.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance, led by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, had announced a protest against judiciary on Friday. The sit-in will be held at Constitution Avenue in Islamabad, outside the Supreme Court building, on Monday.
The top court is set to start hearing an Election Commission’s petition seeking to revisit its verdict on the Punjab polls date. The SCBA expressed its strong disapproval of any attempt to undermine the sanctity and integrity of the apex court.
The apex body of the lawyers also called upon all stakeholders to reduce the political temperature in the best interest of the country’s progress.
SCBA President Abid S Zuberi and Secretary Muqtedir Akhtar Shabbir, in a statement, requested the ruling political parties not to hold the protest or take action that could undermine the integrity and functioning of the judiciary.
The statement said the bar stood with the rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and the independence of judiciary and had extended their unwavering support and solidarity in protecting the Supreme Court against the announced protest on Monday by political parties.
It said that violence in any form would be in violation of law and would amount to a threat to peace and public order, especially when Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure — an emergency law that prohibits gatherings — and Article 245 of the Constitution, under which the army is called in to help the civil administration, had already been invoked in the federal capital.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon the federal government, law enforcement agencies and its relevant subsidiaries to make foolproof security arrangements to ensure the safety and protection of the Supreme Court, it said.
It said the SCBA was deeply committed to upholding the Constitution, the principles of the rule of law and the integrity of judicial institutions. “While we recognise and respect the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, we firmly believe that any attempt to undermine or challenge the authority of the Supreme Court is detrimental to the foundations of democracy,” it said.
The statement said that engaging in protests against the Supreme Court, particularly those aimed at eroding public trust in its decisions, compromised the essence of the rule of law.
It said the SCBA in particular and the entire legal fraternity in general stood united in their commitment to protect the Supreme Court, the Constitution and the rule of law.
The PML-N said that its chief organiser Maryam Nawaz had already arrived in Islamabad to take part in the sit-in.
The briefing to the Supreme Court’s registrar was attended by Islamabad’s deputy commissioner, Irfan Nawaz Memon. However, informed sources said Islamabad’s AIG of the special branch and SSPs for operations, security and traffic could not reach the court premises.
Sources said if no security was provided by the Islamabad police, the deployment of armed forces outside the apex court might also be considered. However, it is expected that a heavy contingent of the Rangers paramilitary may be deployed at the Supreme Court to protect its premises.
No one would be allowed to enter the apex court’s premises except reporters who cover court proceedings daily. Meanwhile, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz arrived in Islamabad on Saturday to participate in the PDM sit-in.
“On the instructions of [PML-N] Quaid Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz will represent the PML-N in the sit-in,” said Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement.
