RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), terming the Protection of Pakistan Bill as black-law, demanded its withdrawal.

The LHCBA unanimous resolution rejected the bill and said the Bar would challenge it in the court for being contrary to the constitution.

The resolution said the Bar considered the bill as contrary to the constitution. If the government did not withdraw it, the legal fraternity had right to move the court against this bill, the resolution added.

Addressing the Bar members, LHCBA President Shafqat Mahmood Chohan said the bill was negation of the constitution of Pakistan and contrary to its several articles. He said if the government would not withdraw it, the lawyers would continue their struggle against it.

Bar Vice President Amir Jalil Siddiqi said the Bar had obligation to challenge the illegal law. He said Nawaz Sharif during his previous tenures had also formed such laws and suffered.

Secretary Bar Ahmed Chhachhar said the bill was against the basic human rights enshrined in the constitution. He said the bill was a black law and black coats were ready to resist it.

A former Bar president Ahmed Awais said that every ruler had been making laws in a bid to prolong their tenures. He said the Protection of Pakistan Bill was also in consonance of such laws. He termed the bill as “Protection of Rulers Bill”.

He said such ordinances had been issued by the dictator and democratic rulers to victimise their opponent politicians, adding in that bill the powers of judiciary was also curtailed.

Some other speakers termed this bill as conspiracy against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

After the general house meeting, the LHCBA representatives held a press conference in this regard. Chohan at the press conference said it was not correct that they were against any political party or any government, adding they were only against the illegal bill and would not let it become law at any cost. In case it was passed into an act, they would challenge it before the Supreme Court, he further said.

He said they would call a lawyers’ convention in near future on that topic to develop a consensus among the lawyers of the country.