Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) on Monday announced to boycott the products of countries which are involved in blasphemous acts, asking the European and US legislatures to make laws to protect the sacredness of Islam in the western societies.
The SHCBA in general body session condemned the fresh sacrilegious attempt on Islam, saying the western world should call anti-Islam movie illegal. They said the western government should discourage its people from hurting the Muslims' religious feelings.
Vice President of SHCBA, Ashiq Ali Anwar Rana presided the session in which the anti-Islam moves were denounced and extended their sympathy to the families of the fire victims in Lahore and Karachi.
The session adopted a resolution, stating that the western societies should pay respect to beliefs and personalities of the world Muslims. It said Muslims globally have a great reverence for the western religions and their leaders whether they are alive or dead.
The legal fraternity were unanimous to call upon the western governments to carry out legislations to stop the anti-Muslim forces from hurting their feelings through blasphemy.
The resolution said the western governments should call disdaining any community or religious group's personalities and leaders illegal. In another resolution, the session again appeared unanimous on boycotting the products of all those countries which continue to involve in anti-Islam acts. The copies of resolutions will be sent to the consulates and embassies of the US and European countries. SHCBA also demanded of the government to undertake a transparent probe into both factory fire incidents in the country to bring the responsible person to justice.
Earlier, lawyers, on the call of Pakistan Bar Council, boycotted the courts proceedings in the province in protest against the anti-Islam film. The boycott left the courts unattended as scores of cases had to be postponed for other dates. The courts premises gave a deserted look.
On the request of Sindh High Court Bar Association, Chief Justice, Sindh High Court, Mushir Alam deferred the proceedings. However, judges held hearing of important cases in their chambers. In other districts of the province, lawyers also abstained from the courts to record their protest against the sacrilegious movie which a US filmmaker made. A very low number of prisoners from different jails were presented before the judges whom deferred their hearing for next sessions, lawyers told Business Recorder. The notary public, stamp vendors, canteen and book shops at courts also remained closed due the protest.
Lawyers of City and Malir Courts also remained absent from hearings due to the boycott call. Lawyers hoisted black flags at their respective bar associations. They also had black ribbon on their arms to denounce the factory fire which left over 250 workers burnt dead.
The legal fraternity condemned the anti-Islam film and asked the government to end diplomatic ties with the US. The lawyers also criticised Pakistani government for not taking up the blasphemous issue with the US and remained silent over the anti-Islam film. The charged lawyers also held the government responsible for the two inferno incidents which claimed 289 innocent lives in Karachi and Lahore.