Addressing a press conference outside the SC building in Islamabad, the PBC members also demanded resignations of the law minister and the attorney general of Pakistan, stating that the May 28 reference against the top court judge was based on ‘mala fide’ intent.
Expressing the fraternity’s intentions of staging a peaceful sit-in, PBC vice chairman Amjad Shah urged the government to immediately withdraw the reference. Purpose of the protest is to guard the essence of the Constitution and preserve the supremacy of law, he explained.
Lawyers to burn copy of reference against Justice Isa on June 14
Protesting against the ‘erroneous’ reference, the lawyers’ body also questioned ‘tainted record’ of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) as an authority to hear references against senior judges.
“Several references remain questionable and the apex court findings in regards to those have not been made public,” said Shah.
Stating de-merits, Shah said that the reference had a weak legal footing. He added that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), being the first authority to investigate the matter, did not serve a show cause notice to the judges, thereby committing a violation.
“The reference has no merit and is based on ill-intention,” he remarked.
The PBC vice chairman clarified that the protest is not borne by pressure from any political party and is exclusively the decision of the lawyers.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Saturday demanded President Arif Alvi’s impeachment for filing a reference against apex court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
SCBA President Amanullah Kanrani stated the legal fraternity’s stance during a press conference. The reference alleges that the apex court judge did not declare foreign property in his wealth statement.
Kanrani maintained that the complaint filed against Justice Isa was “condemnable” and that the nation meted out similar treatment to Fatima Jinnah.
Recounting Justice Isa’s services to the nation, the SCBA president said that the SC judge had “exposed” terrorism and “people who do not speak against terrorists are facilitators of terrorism”.
Lawyers coming together in support of Justice Isa
On June 14, the legal fraternity will gather to express solidarity with the judges, he added.
Urging parliamentarians to file an impeachment reference against the president, Kanrani termed Alvi a “dummy president” and added that he had “no rhyme or reason to hold office”.
The government has filed a complaint at the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against alleged misconduct of two superior court judges, who hold foreign properties either in their own names or through their spouses.
Sources privy to the development told the Express Tribune that it was alleged in the reference – filed through the president – that the judges did not declare their foreign properties in their wealth statements.
