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Annex – Newspaper Reports / Clippings
Dawn 6 May (a)
MQM criticises lawyers for politicising reference
Dawn Report
KARACHI, May 5: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Saturday staged a show of strength at the
Press Club here on Friday with a press conference by lawyers belonging to its Legal Aid Committee and a rally
at which opposition parties were criticised for “politicising the issue of presidential reference against Chief
Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry”.
The main demand of the Legal Aid Committee and the participants in the demonstration was that the
Supreme Judicial Council be allowed to function on its own and lawyers should wait for its decision instead of
holding protest demonstration with opposition parties.“This constitutional issue of the presidential reference has
been converted into a political issue by the opposition parties and certain lawyers’ organisations which are
trying to create a crisis-like situation in the country for their ulterior political motives,” said MQM leader Shoaib
Bukhari at a press conference held in the backyard of the Karachi Press Club.
A good number of lawyers from all over the province attended the press conference.
Outside the KPC, a large number of MQM workers and supporters staged a demonstration criticising
opposition parties and certain lawyers’ bodies for having kept quiet in the past over incidents wherein the
judiciary came under attack and were now trying to influence the SJC by politicising the issue of the reference.
Carrying party flags, huge portraits of party chief Altaf Hussain and holding placards inscribed with
demands like “We want independence of judiciary” or “Stop politicising the reference” etc., the demonstrators
shouted slogans against the opposition parties.
Barricades were placed to block roads leading to the Karachi Press Club. The MQM workers were
seen controlling traffic, doing security job, carrying out the body search at points of entry to the roads. Police
and paramilitary troops were also deployed.
“Every Pakistani who believes in the supremacy of the Constitution and the law, promotion of
democracy and the rule of justice, believes in the independence and autonomy of the judiciary. However,
instead of an individual we (MQM Legal Aid Committee) believe in independence and the strengthening and
stability of the institution of judiciary,” Mr Bukhari, who is the caretaker of the Legal Aid Committee, said.
HRCP
Admitting that peaceful protest is the right of every Pakistani, Mr Bukhari, who is also a member of the
MQM Coordination Committee, asked why did lawyers’ organisations and opposition parties not run campaigns
when Pakistan witnessed several martial laws, civil courts were suspended, courts were compelled to operate
under military instructions and civil rights were usurped?.
Recalling forced retirement in 2000 of the Chief Justice and 15 other judges of the Supreme and high
courts when they refused to take new oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), he said why did
these lawyers’ bodies and opposition parties not think of launching an agitation for the independence of
judiciary?
“Lawyers may continue their peaceful demonstration but should avoid closing down and boycotting
courts and must allow the judicial process to continue.”
Answering a question, he said the MQM did not want to politicise the May 12 scheduled visit of CJP
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to Karachi and would welcome his visit to the city.
He said as a policy matter, the party had already condemned the manner in which the CJP issue had
been handled on March 9.
Outside the KPC, Coordination Committee in charge Anwar Alam addressed the participants of the
demonstration after the press conference.
Menwhile, Karachi Press Club president Sabihuddin Ghausi has apologised to members of the club
who suffered inconvenience, hardship and even humiliation as a press conference booked by the Muttahida
Qaumi Movement was turned in to a public meeting, and offered himself for any action to the club’s governing
body or the general council.
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