A brief meeting, bearing goodwill pledges and a cheque of one million rupees, between once archrivals culminated in a rare show of magnanimity on Monday as the outgoing president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Qazi Muhammad Anwar recognised Law Minister Babar Awan as 'member of legal fraternity' and the latter expressed readiness of holding 'talks' with the fraternity.
Babar Awan called on the SCBA president, who during his term had been a harsh critic of the minister, at his office at Supreme Court and gave a cheque of Rs one million for employees of the bar. In addition, the minister announced a grant of Rs four million for SCBA library.
After the meeting, the 'stalwarts' of legal fraternity appeared for a joint press talk with exchange of pleasantries and resolve to 'sit together' in the larger interest of the country. At his turn to address reporters, Qazi Muhammad Anwer said "I welcomed the law minister in my office and avoided to raise controversial issues we want more interaction with the law ministry." "We consider Babar Awan our member," said Qazi Muhammad Anwar while giving a vote of thanks to Law Minister for presenting a cheque of Rs 1 million for SCBA employees.
Responding to the SCBA president's acknowledgement of his being a part of 'legal fraternity,' Babar Awan said the law ministry was ready to sit with the bar councils and the association for the supremacy of the law and the constitution. Prior to the meeting both 'lawyers' were poles apart with respect to their approach towards several issues being faced by the judiciary, upcoming elections of SCBA, doling of money among lawyers and attack on Chief Justice Lahore High Court are few to count.
On October 16, the SCBA president while addressing District Bar Association Rawalpindi, had accused the Law Minister for hinder the compliance of SC orders and extending bad advices to the government about how to tackle the superior court.
Babar Awan said that in the days to come you would see more interaction between the bars and the law ministry. Many issues can be resolved by merely sitting together, he added. However, the minister lamented that undemocratic actions had made Pakistan to retreat and vowed to make the country strong through continuity of democratic process.The law minister said that the legislations have not been done according to expectations of the lawyer community therefore, they need support of bar council and the association in this regard.
Babar Awan did mention the backlog of cases, his favourite topic to speak whenever he is supposed to defend the government and to criticise judiciary as he did this on Friday after issuance of a restrain order from the apex court over withdrawal of judges' reinstatement notification by referring Asghar Khan's pending petition, and said quick disposal of cases in lower court the ministry was working on a bill, which will be sent to the SCBA for their advice.
On the occasion he also handed over 100 copies of the Constitution of Pakistan to the SCBA president. The SCBA president said neither there was any clash nor any plan to wage war against the government. In response to a question regarding reconciliation between organs of the state, he said judiciary is not a political party or allied party that dialogue should be held with it as PM wants third party's intervention for dialogue with the judiciary. He said the government should implement the court's order then there will be no need for dialogue, adding there is no personal grudge against the Prime Minister or the President.