Lawyers' movement launched against proposed constitutional amendment bill
Pakistan
Senator Hamid Khan said they will not allow constitution to be fiddled
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and prominent lawyer Senator Hamid Khan announced the launch of a lawyers' movement, condemning proposed recent constitutional amendments that he claims were kept confidential.
Speaking at a lawyers' convention at the Lahore High Court, Khan condemned the amendments, asserting that their secrecy reveals a malicious intent. He further stated that PTI does not admit the legitimacy of a constitutional court.
Khan stressed that the movement will continue with its next convention to be conducted in Karachi. He claimed that there is no precedent for a constitutional court in countries like India and Australia and that the purpose of such a court in Pakistan is to undermine the constitution. "We will not allow the constitution to be tampered with," he declared.
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Noted lawyer and former leader of the Gen Musharraf era lawyers movement, Ali Ahmad Kurd also addressed the convention, underlining the unity of the legal community. He warned that no force could stand in the way of a united lawyers' movement. Kurd blamed the government.
PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen Advocate expressed regret for having supported Justice Qazi Faiz Isa in the past. He said that the current Chief Justice was the worst in history. Shaheen pointed to exceptional constitutional challenges in the country’s 76-year history and accused some members of the legal fraternity of collaborating in the controversial amendments.
The convention concluded with a strong declaration rejecting the Constitutional Court and the so-called constitutional package. The declaration demanded that the Chief Justice of Pakistan be appointed on a seniority basis. The convention also called for the immediate issuance of a notification for the appointment of Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah as Chief Justice.
