The end of 'long march' without a sit in by the legal fraternity is a set back to the lawyers' movement and it gave the impression that Musharraf will not reinstate judges sacked on November 3, last year. Hamid Khan, member Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Implementation Committee for the 'long march', stated this while addressing a press conference, here on Monday.
The 'long march', with a flying start on June 9, from Quetta and Sukkhar had converged with thousands of lawyers, civil society members and political workers from every nook and corner of the country on Islamabad.
Islamabad was the final stage for the show to press the government for reinstatement of judges sacked by President Musharraf. But the march came to an end without a sit in devoid of any tangible result, as it was anticipated by the legal fraternity. This happy ending ultimately disappointed the lawyers to such degree that they went for a disagreement with their leaders.
Hamid said that the decision of ending 'long march' did not contain consent of the implementation committee, which was due to meet on June 14, in order to make any decision. He said that the legal fraternity is not suspicious about the decision taken by Aitzaz Ahsan to end the long march without a sit in saying his decision was bereft of any ulterior motive as it is being perceived.
"We call upon the lawyers throughout the country to maintain unity among their ranks and to continue this movement with greater vigor and determination till the objective of the movement is achieved," he said.
He said that the PBC will evaluate the gains and shortcomings of the long march in its next meeting on June 28, to avoid any pitfalls and mistakes in the future. The council will also announce a date for holding another 'All Pakistan Lawyers Representatives Conference' to address the grievances of the community and design future course of action for the movement, he added.
He said that all the Bar Associations are requested to hold daily boycott of the courts for one hour, as these protests are still in the field under resolution of the PBC passed in January 13.
He said that we condemn Rehman Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior and Salmaan Taseer, Governor Punjab for making statements intended to belittle the lawyers' movement deliberately understanding the number and strength of the participants of the long march.
Such characters are the past relics of the establishment headed by the usurper Pervez Musharraf and it is in the interest of the government to show them the door at the earliest, he added.
He said that we reject the so called 'constitutional amendment package' as ill conceived and declare that the restoration of judges should have nothing to do with any constitutional amendment. As promised by the heads of the major coalition parties (PPP and PML-N) in Murree Declaration, the judiciary of November 2, be restored through resolution of the National Assembly and executive order, he added.
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