Terming constructive criticism of legal fraternity over judicial decisions as a lawyer's privilege, President Supreme Court Bar Association Rasheed A Rizvi censured recent nomination of an apex court judge to monitor proceedings against ousted Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and his family members in accountability courts.
Talking to the reporters who cover Supreme Court proceedings, Rizvi said on Friday, there are possibilities for error in judicial decisions saying it would be difficult to express that verdicts are announced on the whims of some institutions. He categorically said that subordinate courts of the country should be given respect as much as the Supreme Court of Pakistan is granted.
The SCBA president questioned as to why Pervez Musharraf, the former army chief and president, was allowed to fly abroad. He said that the apex court had repeatedly asked the Nawaz Sharif government to place Musharraf's name in the Exit Control List.
He wanted to know who asked or gave signal to then government to allow Musharraf to proceed abroad. He said that then government itself had strengthened the hands of 'establishment' in the country. "Sharif government had not expressed its consent to place Musharraf's name on the ECL but pleaded before the apex court to do the government's job," he cited. Rizvi said that those who were following signals of establishment are now complaining of being abused. He also questioned whether there is any politician who has never remained part of establishment.