Musharraf-PPP deal divides legal fraternity

The 'deal' between General Pervaz Musharraf and Pakistan People Party (PPP), of which the recently promulgated National Reconciliation Ordinance came as an outcome, has not only created hiccup in the political spectrum but also led to rift in ranks of legal fraternity.
The divide among the legal fraternity is going to be evident and clear with each passing day as the lawyers and office-bearers of different bar association loyal to PPP are toeing the line of party instead of the decisions of lawyers leaders who had announced a second phase of their struggle to oust the uniform president.
On Saturday, President Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Ahsan Bhon, who is said to be loyal to PPP, did not allow some members of the bar who intended to table a resolution against National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), 2007 and condemn the move which they though tantamount to give impunity and indemnity to those who plundered national exchequers and money of tax payers. Bhon was of the view that although bar members had their affiliation with political parties but they were united at the bar platform. Regarding his denial to allow resolution against the NRO he said that lawyers were professional and hence he did not want to create difference among the bar members which might damage the second phase of their struggle.
The bar members want to proceed on the Mall but bar president announced to hold demonstration before the main gate of the Lahore High Court only.
When despite his announcement to protest in front of LHC gate, some members insisted to proceed on the Mall, lawyers affiliated with PPP them and forced them to come back and remained at the main gate of the LHC. Even PML-N lawyers' forum President Walli Muhammad Khan was forcibly taken back to the main gate of the LHC.
PML-N lawyers's forum President Khawaja Mehmood announced that they would not allow office-bearers of the bar to pass such directives. Later on former Vice Chairman Pakistan Bar Council Hafiz Abdur Rehman Anwari led a group of lawyers to the Mall Road. Ansari condemned the attitude of the bar office bearers for not allow lawyer to proceed on the Mall. He said the office bearers of the LHCBA would not be allowed to toe the line of any particular political party, adding that bar was a professional body hence the bar members would not allow any one to misuse this platform.