LAHORE:
The legal community warned on Saturday that Pakistan “is at its darkest place”, accusing decision-makers of undermining the dignity, freedom and rights of citizens.
The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) organized the Pakistan Bar Convention (APLC), against the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, at the Javed Iqbal Auditorium of the Lahore High Court premises.
The meeting was attended by prominent figures from the legal community including Senator Hamid Khan, Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, former Supreme Court Bar Association President Ali Ahmad Kurd, Lahore High Court Bar Association President Asif Niswaana and others.
The PTI lawyers gave strong speeches.
The APLC unanimously passed a resolution rejecting amendments 26 and 27 and the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
Salman Akram Raja of the PTI highlighted widespread unemployment, the deterioration of the education system and serious health care problems, stating that “nothing is working properly.”
He warned that Pakistan is in its “darkest moment.” He further praised the determination of the legal community of Sindh and warned that the country is facing an unprecedented crisis on political, economic and civil liberties fronts.
The PTI general secretary lamented that “there is no space left in this country to tell the truth”, but expressed confidence in the legal fraternity.
He criticized the government for “turning Pakistan into a prison” and at the same time claimed to have made progress in economic development, calling such claims “a complete illusion.”
Rabia Bajwa, former vice president of the Lahore Bar High Court, said Pakistan has reached a point where “state institutions and the people are facing each other,” adding that there are now two separate lists defining the country: “one issued by the General Headquarters declaring who is a traitor and another issued by the Senate declaring who the heroes are.”
Former president of Multan Bar Association Mehmood Ashraf in his speech urged the legal fraternity to take a stand in favor of constitutional freedoms and institutional independence.
Ali Ahmad Kurd, veteran lawyer and former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said those currently “in power” also belong to this same city, and the citizens of Lahore know exactly who they are and under what law they claim to govern.
Hamid Khan, PTI’s senior lawyer and senator, described a recent press conference as “deeply embarrassing”, noting that the generals now speak openly as if politics were part of their job.
