Sindh's lawyers' community on Monday announced to withdraw its strike call following the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the contempt law. The legal fraternity of lower courts in the province observed strike twice since ruling parties in the National Assembly passed a contempt law, as Sindh Bar Council (SBC) called the legislation a government's move to trim the superior court's powers.
Addressing a joint press conference, Sindh Bar Council (SBC) and Karachi Bar Association (KBA) announced to observe a thanksgiving day on next Wednesday to celebrate the judiciary's victory against the 'black law'. President SBA, Mehmoodul Hassan said those who wanted to blacken the law have finally been defeated with the court's verdict. He termed the court's verdict against the contempt law a "victory" of KBA.
He alleged Farooq H Naik for conspiring against the KBA, saying the former Senate Chairman is involved in bribing the association members. He said the government failed to clip the judiciary powers and was defeated. He blamed the government of defaming the judiciary through unknown characters, and attempting to hide its ills and corruption. He said KBA had also filed a constitutional petition against the contempt law to challenge it.
He said the legal fraternity is not in favour of strikes to keep the courts shut but situation sometimes prompt such closures. He challenged no authority can abolish the lawyers' mandate in the country. Mehmoodul Hassan vowed the lawyers' community will continue its struggle to assure the provision of justice to common people.
General Secretary, KBA, Khalid Mumtaz held President Asif Ali Zardari responsible for the continued drive against the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Without naming anyone, he said there are elements who are behind the conspiracy against the Chief Justice whom doing so on the behest of Asif Zardari. Member SBC, Hanif Kashmiri thanked all the lower courts bars of the province for supporting the strikes called by it against the contempt law.