LAHORE:
The legal fraternity warned on Saturday that Pakistan is “standing in its darkest place,” accusing policymakers of undermining the dignity, freedom and rights of citizens.
Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and Lahore Bar Association (LBA) organized All Pakistan Lawyers’ Convention (APLC), against 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments, at Javed Iqbal Auditorium in Lahore High Court premises.
Dignitaries from the legal community attended the gathering including Senator Hamid Khan, Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, former Supreme Court Advocate Ali Ahmad Kurd, Lahore High Court Bar President Asif Niswaana and others.
The lawyers belonging to PTI gave their strong worded speeches.
The APLC unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the 26th and 27th Amendments and the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
Highlighting widespread unemployment, a deteriorating education system and serious health challenges, PTI’s Salman Akram Raja said “nothing is working properly”.
He warned that Pakistan is in its “darkest moment”. He further lauded the decision of Sindh’s legal community while warning that the country is facing an unprecedented crisis on political, economic and civic fronts.
The PTI general secretary lamented that “there is no room left in this country to speak the truth,” but expressed confidence in the legal fraternity.
He criticized the government for “turning Pakistan into a prison” while claiming progress in economic development, calling such claims “a complete illusion”.
Former Deputy President of the Lahore High Court Bar, Rabia Bajwa said Pakistan has reached a point where “state institutions and the people are facing each other,” adding that two separate lists now define the country – “one issued by the GHQ declaring who is a traitor and another issued by the Senate declaring who the heroes are”.
Former Multan Bar Association President Mehmood Ashraf in his speech urged the legal fraternity to take a stand on constitutional freedoms and institutional independence.
Veteran lawyer and former Supreme Court Bar President Ali Ahmad Kurd said that currently the “occupying powers” also belong to this very city – and Lahore’s citizens know exactly who they are and under what law they claim to rule.
Senior lawyer and PTI senator Hamid Khan described a recent press conference as “deeply shameful,” pointing out that generals are now openly speaking as if politics is part of their job.
