Lawyers' unions split over calls for protests

Islamabad: The president of Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Ahsen Bhoon and Senator Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, both from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), yesterday denounced the lawyers' National Action Committee (NAC) and refused to support its call to protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) building in Islamabad.

"Hundreds of our colleagues have reservations regarding the decisions of NAC on the national issues, the body has seized to exist after the restoration of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and the lawyers are no more bound to follow its decision," Bhoon said while addressing the All Pakistan Lawyers' Representative Convention.

Meagre representation

Representatives of about 30 of the more than 1,000 district and tehsil (sub-district) bar associations of the country participated in the conference. Not more than 100 lawyers participated, though the LHCBA expected participation from more than 400 bar associations.

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Munir A. Malik, Pakistan Bar Council vice chairman and Punjab Bar Council vice chairman did not attend the conference considering it against the agenda of the NAC.

"The absence of Munir Malik or Ali Ahmad Kurd is solid proof of split in the lawyers community because most of the lawyers are of the opinion that they should not offer their shoulders to the politicians who have failed to bring the nation on roads against the government," said Nasir Mahmoud, a senior jurist.

Bhoon also slammed the NAC for calling for a protest that was not practical and rejected the call for demonstrations.

The LHCBA president said it was ridiculous to say the lawyers would field their own candidate against President Pervez Musharraf because that would just legitimise Musharraf's run for presidency.