The fresh oath taking by the deposed judges has actually 'legalised' their removal, along with the unconstitutional steps, by former President Pervez Musharraf, said Aitzaz Ahsan, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), here on Saturday.
Addressing media persons after a meeting of SCBA executive committee, Aitzaz lamented over the oath taking of the deposed judges, saying that he was not expecting that these judges would lose their patience, "and go for a fresh oath".
"It is the lawyers' movement which compelled the government for making requests to the deposed judges", he said. To substantiate his argument, he said that in retrospect the history would reveal that it was not the first ever PCO promulgated in the country.
The governments in the past did not approach the judges for their reappointment, he added. He said that the lawyers' movement had changed the scenario of politics in the country. He said that the former President left the army, held transparent elections, and ultimately resigned from his office only because of the lawyers' movement. He said that "we (lawyers) are pacifist" and believe in non-violence; "our movement is not going to die, rather it is moving forward and is gaining momentum".
Offering vote of thanks to the civil society for participation in countrywide sit-ins (Dharnas) on August 28, he said that the lawyers' movement had established supremacy of constitution in the country. "The civil society has played a key role in the movement," he added.
Aitzaz said that on September 4, representatives of bar associations from across the country would assemble in front of Parliament House and stage a peaceful protest rally. During the month of Ramazan there would be no sit-in or any protest, he announced.
He said that from October 9 to 12 the association would hold 'International Lawyers Convention' and the legal community from across the world would participate in the convention. The deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad would chair the inaugural session, he added.
He said on November 4, the CJ would go for European tour to address the Europeans. Afterwards, on November 15, he would go to New York and receive lifetime membership of New York Bar Association. On November 19, he would receive the prestigious award of 'Medal of Freedom' from the Harvard University. This tour would augment the pressure on the government for his reinstatement, he added. About his affiliation with the PPP he said that it was out of the question that he would leave the party.
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