Supreme Court Bar Association President (SCBA) Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan has said that a sovereign and stronger parliament is out of question without an independent judiciary. He was addressing a seminar on 'Role of Lawyers' Movement and Independence of Judiciary', which was organised by Pakistan Judicial Crisis Management Committee here on Monday.
Aitzaz said the removal of over 60 judges in one stroke has badly tarnished the image of our judiciary as an independent institution. He added that as a result of the November 3 PCO, imposed by President Musharraf, foreign investment, a key factor in bolstering country's economy has come to a halt.
Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) President Anwar Kamal, former president LHCBA Pir Kaleem Ahmad Khursheed, President Lahore Bar Association Manzoor Qadir, and Chairman of the Committee Shafqat Mahmood Choudhan also spoke at the seminar.
The Supreme Court Bar Association President (SCBA) President said the impression of 'vulnerable to pressure' about the judges has been established after they took oath under the PCO. In Europe, judiciary had been made independent three centuries before democracy was introduced there, Aitzaz said adding that how the Prime Minster could claim sovereignty of the parliament when the judiciary was not independent.
He maintained that judiciary could be called independent only if the November 2nd judiciary is restored. He urged the government to restore deposed judges and revive the judiciary at the earliest in the larger interest of the people.
Justifying his decision not to stage a 'sit in' after the long march, Aitzaz said some elements under the cover of long march were on the prowl to damage the parliament while the government itself wanted to give the lawyers maximum stay to wait for any untoward incident.
He said the lawyers movement has gained much more strength after the long march and All Pakistan Lawyers Representatives Convention in Lahore on July 19 would decide 'time and action' to further the movement. The Supreme Court Bar Association President said lawyers are out to change the history for which they have to show patience and steadfastness.
He further said his bar would suggest two-hour 'sit in' every Thursday at every bar level throughout the country to convey a definite message to the rulers that lawyers were not fatigue and weary but alive and energetic as they were on the day one.
He concluded his address on a strong note that lawyers' movement would go on until judges are restored. A resolution was also passed on the occasion for restoration of the judges through an executive order, rejecting the constitutional package. It was also suggested to hold a 'sit-in' before the Parliament house by each Bar of the country on every Thursday on rotational basis. In order to honour the deposed judges, two minutes standing ovation was accorded by the audience.