Justice Sharif tells lawyers to jealously guard reinstatements
Justice Khawaja Mohammad Sharif of the Lahore High Court (LHC), who did not succumb to the allegiance of the Nov 3 Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), has urged lawyers to remain vigilant for their cause of independence of the judiciary, particularly the reinstatement of all judges deposed under the PCO.
Though political parties had pledged to ensure supremacy and independence of the judiciary and reinstate all superior courts judges, it was bars’ duty to remain united and committed to their cause for the establishment of rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and independence of the judiciary, Justice Sharif told members of the District Bar Association (DBA) here on Thursday.
Justice Sharif, who was senior-most LHC judge after chief justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry and was due to be elevated as chief justice on Jan 1, narrated the sordid tale how he was pressed by the regime through his own kith and kin to stay away from the lawyers’ movement for independence of the judiciary, especially to abandon attending a reception hosted by Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) in honour of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on LHCBA premises on May 5, 2007.
Around 18 judges led by the senior-most judge, Justice Sharif, attended the overnight reception that could only start next morning upon the arrival of chief justice of Pakistan on May 6. The reception had given true impetus to the lawyers’ struggle after Chief Justice Iftikhar had been sent on forced leave in the wake of a presidential reference filed on March 9, and had indeed ‘annoyed’ many at the helm of affairs.
Speaking to a jam-packed audience at the DBA Hall, Justice Sharif said the legal fraternity’s struggle was going on uninterrupted yet undeterred, as they wanted new generations must benefit from the establishment of rule of law in the country. He said the masses had appreciated and indeed participated in lawyers’ protest drive vigorously, which proved that people joined hands with forces struggling for democracy and supremacy of the Constitution.
"It was the lawyers’ relentless effort which forced President Musharraf to shed his army uniform,” Justice Sharif added.
Lawyers resorted to full-throated slogans in favour of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other superior courts judges who did not took oath under the Nov 3, 2007 edition of the PCO.
Justice Sharif said Musharraf’s regime had been claiming that it had brought tremendous prosperity in the country but ground realities were depicting an altogether different situation as masses had been running from pillar to post for bread and flour and had been confronted with power and gas outages in extreme winter. He also termed February 18 a day of “silent revolution” in the country.
He praised Justice Rana Bagwandas (retired) as he was first judge of the superior judiciary who straightforwardly refused to surrender to the PCO’s loyalty.
Justice Sharif said his close relatives were influenced by the regime to advise him to refrain from supporting Chief Justice Iftikhar and the lawyers’ movement.
He said a governor of a province also tried to ‘persuade’ him to stay away from the LHCBA’s May 5 reception but he did not budge to the temptations and continued supporting the unprecedented movement despite his due elevation as LHC chief justice on Jan 1 upon the retirement of the then chief justice, Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry.
Later, the DBA members took out a protest rally. Holding banners and placards, lawyers marched on different city roads and later dispersed after returning to the bar premises. Throughout their journey, they kept on shouting high-pitched slogans, prominently their favourite rhetoric, “Go Musharraf go” and “Chief (Justice Iktikhar) Tere Jan Nisar — Beshumar, beshumar.”
Justice Khawaja Mohammad Sharif of the Lahore High Court (LHC), who did not succumb to the allegiance of the Nov 3 Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), has urged lawyers to remain vigilant for their cause of independence of the judiciary, particularly the reinstatement of all judges deposed under the PCO.
Though political parties had pledged to ensure supremacy and independence of the judiciary and reinstate all superior courts judges, it was bars’ duty to remain united and committed to their cause for the establishment of rule of law, supremacy of the Constitution and independence of the judiciary, Justice Sharif told members of the District Bar Association (DBA) here on Thursday.
Justice Sharif, who was senior-most LHC judge after chief justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry and was due to be elevated as chief justice on Jan 1, narrated the sordid tale how he was pressed by the regime through his own kith and kin to stay away from the lawyers’ movement for independence of the judiciary, especially to abandon attending a reception hosted by Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) in honour of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on LHCBA premises on May 5, 2007.
Around 18 judges led by the senior-most judge, Justice Sharif, attended the overnight reception that could only start next morning upon the arrival of chief justice of Pakistan on May 6. The reception had given true impetus to the lawyers’ struggle after Chief Justice Iftikhar had been sent on forced leave in the wake of a presidential reference filed on March 9, and had indeed ‘annoyed’ many at the helm of affairs.
Speaking to a jam-packed audience at the DBA Hall, Justice Sharif said the legal fraternity’s struggle was going on uninterrupted yet undeterred, as they wanted new generations must benefit from the establishment of rule of law in the country. He said the masses had appreciated and indeed participated in lawyers’ protest drive vigorously, which proved that people joined hands with forces struggling for democracy and supremacy of the Constitution.
"It was the lawyers’ relentless effort which forced President Musharraf to shed his army uniform,” Justice Sharif added.
Lawyers resorted to full-throated slogans in favour of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other superior courts judges who did not took oath under the Nov 3, 2007 edition of the PCO.
Justice Sharif said Musharraf’s regime had been claiming that it had brought tremendous prosperity in the country but ground realities were depicting an altogether different situation as masses had been running from pillar to post for bread and flour and had been confronted with power and gas outages in extreme winter. He also termed February 18 a day of “silent revolution” in the country.
He praised Justice Rana Bagwandas (retired) as he was first judge of the superior judiciary who straightforwardly refused to surrender to the PCO’s loyalty.
Justice Sharif said his close relatives were influenced by the regime to advise him to refrain from supporting Chief Justice Iftikhar and the lawyers’ movement.
He said a governor of a province also tried to ‘persuade’ him to stay away from the LHCBA’s May 5 reception but he did not budge to the temptations and continued supporting the unprecedented movement despite his due elevation as LHC chief justice on Jan 1 upon the retirement of the then chief justice, Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry.
Later, the DBA members took out a protest rally. Holding banners and placards, lawyers marched on different city roads and later dispersed after returning to the bar premises. Throughout their journey, they kept on shouting high-pitched slogans, prominently their favourite rhetoric, “Go Musharraf go” and “Chief (Justice Iktikhar) Tere Jan Nisar — Beshumar, beshumar.”
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