The acting Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Javed Iqbal, on Thursday called upon the lawyers community to register their protest in a peaceful and dignified manner and that they should not take the law in their hands.
In an informal chat with journalists in his chamber just after issuing an order for inquiry into police action against lawyers on Wednesday in Quetta, he said that the lawyers should also see that litigants did not suffer in the wake of their protest and respect their rights.
"There are better ways of registering protest. The lawyers should protest by remaining within the law as there is no ban on such activity," he maintained. Justice Javed Iqbal said that struggle for rights should be inter-linked with the realisation of responsibilities and duty.
He said that the lawyers' representatives, chief secretary and police officials all expressed their satisfaction over his order, appointing a senior judge of the High Court, enquiring into this incident. He further said that after receiving the enquiry report action would be taken against commanding authority. Role of any political elements would also be looked into, he added.
He said that there is no ban on protests by lawyers or media coverage. However every one should respect the law. He asked the media to remain impartial and balanced while reporting any event or incident, as sensationalisation would create insecurity among the common man.
Justice Javed Iqbal made it clear that he had not banned meeting with any channel representative and he is reiterating his point only to correct the record. He said as the senior judge of the Supreme Court Justice Rana Bhagwan Das has returned, he would take oath of his office any time after March 23. He (Bhagwan Das) has also re-affirmed that everything would be in accordance with the constitution and law. He said that during his short-tenure he had not passed any order contrary to the law.