The Growing Divide in the Lawyer Community

The black coats of Pakistan are certainly a very respected and honourable part of our society and have always been the voice raisers when all other attempts at breaking through a brick wall have failed.

With the recent controversies that have emerged involving the son of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Ifthikar Muhammad, the minor divide in the lawyer fraternity has become a crack in the system which has created serious problems for sure.

One side of the black coats is on the Chief Justice’s side while the other is of the view that the CJ’s position should be neutral at all times, which at many times has looked to be leaned towards one side.

With the reinstatement of the Chief Justice, who was ousted by former President Pervez Musharraf, after which a presidential reference was sent to the Supreme Judicial Council for his disqualification, lawyers came out almost suddenly against the head of state.

Now, the issue has grown more grave with one group of lawyers supporting the CJ is an almost political way at every judgement he gives against the current government. What one sees here is the awkward situation which has been created with slogans and chants in favour of the CJ instead of their being humbleness and gratitude towards the courts.

Slogans and chants are meant for political activities and should stay that way. Doing so for the Chief Justice just makes everything more controversial than it already is. Now, the situation has come to the point that even representing someone who is, in a way, against the Chief Justice, must think twice or a lifetime ban on his entry into the bar could come into force.

Prominent lawyers such as Aitzaz Ahsan, who were leading the restoration of the ousted judiciary, were forced to hide under the covers when a bunch of vicious black coats came out against him every way possible after defending a democratically elected Prime Minister.

What lawyers must realise that they have a dignified position in society and by beating on policemen, civilians and protesting and each and every possible aspect will only degrade it to the point of no return.

The judges should not be the context of their protests and slogans against the government since it also demeans their neutral offices from which each and every citizen of this country expects justice from.

Political affiliation is a fundamental right of each and every citizen and keeping it out of the courts of this country is one step towards judicial progression in this country.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=26937

Posted by Syed Hassan Bokhari on Jun 25 2012. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.