PRESS RELEASE Mr. Abid Saqi, Vice Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council has issued the following statement:- "The Pakistan Bar Council takes strong exception to the most irresponsible handeling of the matter of providing due security to the Hon'ble Cheif Justice of Pakistan during his visits to places outside Islamabad, by the Punjab Police and the Government of Punjab. Provision of foolproof security to the Hon'ble Cheif Justice of Pakistan during his visits to different places outside Islamabad, is a routine matter and its SOPs are in vogue since long period of time and in view of utmost sensitive importance of such visits, the security/ measures are always kept top secret. But the mishandeling of the matter as reflects from contents of letters dated 28th and 30th January, 2020, issued by the Central Police Office, Punjab, Lahore and their deliberate and malicious leakage, is highly condemnable. The Pakistan Bar Council, therefore while strongly condemning the Government of Punjab and the Punjab Police for their malicious act of undermining the dignity and status of the Hon'ble Cheif Justice of Pakistan demands the detailed probe and investigation by the high powered commission, to find out the actual motive behind this unfortunate episode and to fix responsibility upon the delinquent and responsible officials. Secretary, Pakistan Bar Council.

January 16 , 2020 P R E S S R E L E A S E The 228 th meeting of the Pakistan Bar Council was held today at 2-00 p.m. in Council’s Office, Supreme Court Building, Islamabad with Mr. Anwar Mansoor Khan, Attorney-General for Pakistan and Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council in the Chair. The attendance of the meeting was as under:- (1) Mr. Anwar Mansoor Khan, . . . . . . Chairman Attorney-General for Pakistan (2) Syed Amjad Shah . . . . . . Vice-Chairman (3) Mr. Kamran Murtaza Member (4) Mr. Muhammad Shoaib Shaheen . . . . . . Member (5) Mr. Abdul Fayaz . . . . . . Member (6) Mr. Sher Muhammad Khan . . . . . . Member (7) Mr. Azam Nazeer Tarar . . . . . . Member (8) Mr. Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon . . . . . . Member (9) Mr. Abid Saqi . . . . . . Member (10) Ch. Tahir Nasrullah Warraich . . . . . . Member (11) Mr. Hafeez-ur-Rehman Chaudhry . . . . . . Member (12) Mr. Muhammad Raheel Kamran Sheikh . . . . . . Member (13) Mian Muhammad Shafiq Bhandara . . . . . . Member (14) Syed Qalib-i-Hassan . . . . . . Member (15) Malik Ghulam Mustafa Kandwal . . . . . . Member (16) Mr. Muhammad Yousaf Laghari . . . . . . Member (17) Mr. Rasheed A. Razvi . . . . . . Member (18) Mr. Ghulam Shabbir Shar Balouch . . . . . . Member (19) Mr. Muhammad Aqil . . . . . . Member (20) Mr. Akhtar Hussain . . . . . Member (21) Hafiz Muhammad Idris Sheikh . . . . . . Member (22) Mr. Muhammad Yaseen Azad . . . . . . Member Election of Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council: The Pakistan Bar Council apart from transacting other business on its Agenda, also elected, un-opposed, Mr. Abid Saqi as its Vice-Chairman, for the year 2020. The Council also appreciated Syed Amjad Shah the outgoing Vice-Chairman for leading the Council with dignity and honour. The Council deliberated upon the announcement of recent verdict by a Bench of Lahore High Court declaring constitution of Special Court dealing with high treason case of General Pervaiz Musharraf as unconstitutional. The Council expressed its opinion that assumption of Jurisdiction by a High Court at such a stage was uncalled for, more particularly in the presence of the right of Appeal before the Supreme Court of Pakistan provided by Law and thus disapproved the same. The Council also decided to file an Appeal before the Supreme Court of Pakistan against this decision. The Council also discussed in detail the Judgment of Supreme Court of Pakistan in Army Chief extention case and opined that said Petition was seemingly taken up out of turn and then unlawfully directing the Parliament for legislation raised many an eye brows. The Council also expressed its grave concerns regarding forced disappearance and unconstitutional detention of Mr. Inam-ur-Rahim, Advocate by state agencies and called for his forthwith release with a demand to take stern legal action against the delinquents. The Council re-iterated its earlier stance regarding appointment of Judges in the Superior Courts by Judicial Commission of Pakistan and expressed its grave concerns regarding the process of appointment of Superior Courts Judges. The Council is of the opinion that Judicial Commission could not deliver to the expectations of the legal fraternity rather it appears that most of the appointments are being made in a non- transparent manner and without meaningful consultations with the stake holders. The Council also urges the Judicial Commission to forthwith amend the rules as proposed by Pakistan and Provincial Bar Councils. The Council also proposed and urged the Parliament to suitably amend Article 175-A of the Constitution so as to reconstitute the Judicial Commission of Pakistan by including equal number of Members from the Judiciary, Legislature and the Bar to ensure merit based appointments of the Superior Court Judges after meaningful consultations amongst the real stake holders. The Council also disapproved the amendments made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government in Civil Procedure Code and Anti Narcotics Laws and supported the stance taken by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council and Peshawar High Court Bar Association urging the Government to withdraw the same. The Council took serious notice of the unfortunate incident taking place at PIC, Lahore and expressed its sorrow and grief. The Provincial Bar Councils were directed to ensure effective disciplinary actions to curb any such incident when ever and where ever it take place, so that the dignity and honor of the profession be maintained according to legal ethics and etiquettes. The Council also constituted a Special Committee to ensure that rules framed for conduct of elections of Bar Councils and Bar Associations are strictly implemented and acted upon. The Pakistan Bar Council forthwith imposed ban on the display of any kind of banners/posters/panaflexes/phamplets etc by contesting candidates or their supporters in any manners and so also to host dinners/lunches what so ever directing the Provincial Bar Councils to forthwith take disciplinary actions in this regard. The Pakistan Bar Council upholds the fundamental right of freedom of expression and strongly criticized the role of state agencies for controlling and curbing the media to suppress free reporting and expression of opinion. The Pakistan Bar Council also discussed and deliberated upon the case management system in the Supreme Court as well as in High Courts and expressed its disappointment that despite repeated requests by concerned Bar Councils and Bar Associations no heed is being paid by the Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief Justices of respective High Courts. The present practice of occasional constitution of Benches at Registries of the Supreme Court should be stopped forthwith and instead the Benches at Registries of the Supreme Court should work there at least not less than two weeks in any case. The Council also constituted two Members Committee comprised of Mr. Abid Saqi, Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council and Syed Qalb-i-Hassan, President, Supreme Court Bar Association to take up this matter with Chief Justice of Pakistan and similarly such Committees will be constituted at the Provincial level giving effective deadline for redressal of lawyers otherwise the legal fraternity will be left with no option to launch a nation wide movement to protect the rights of litigant public as well as Members of the Bar. The Council assured its fullest co-operation to the newly elected Vice-Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council to carry out mandate of the Bar. SECRETARY

December 19 , 2019 PRESS RELEASE Syed Amjad Shah, Vice-Chairman and Mr. Sher Muhammad Khan, Chairman, Executive Committee, Pakistan Bar Council, have issued the following statement:- “We strongly condemn and disapprove the statement of Director General, ISPR, who has criticized the Judgment of the Special Court whereunder the Ex-Chief of the Army Staff and Former President of Pakistan General ® Pervaiz Musharraf, has been convicted for violating Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan and committing high treason. We are of the firm opinion that the statement of DG, ISPR is clear cut violation of the legal and constitutional provisions and thus amounts to contempt of the Court. If there are some flaws in the Judgment of Musharraf’s case, in the opinion of DG, ISPR, then the law has provided, procedure and proper course for agitating such flaws, if any, before the higher judicial forums by way of Appeal, Revision or Constitutional Petition but the manner and the way, in which, the Judgment of the Special Court has been criticized by an official of the Army clearly gives an impression that all the Institutions in Pakistan are subservient to the Armed Forces, to follow its dictation and there is no respect for any other forum including the Judiciary. The legal community is also of the view that the attitude adopted by the Federal Government, its Ministers, Law Officers and specially the Attorney-General for Pakistan, is also proves that the Party in power has been installed by the Army and its Institution is on the driving seat and that’s why they are also criticizing the Judgment in the same tune and tenor. We, therefore, strongly condemn and disapprove the insulting attitude of the Army Official as well as the Government functionaries towards Judiciary and the constitutional process of dispensation of justice.” SECRETARY

No.2123/PBC/SEC/2019 December 16, 2019 Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman, Bar Council of India, 58-Todarmal Road, 2nd Floor, Behind Mandi House Metro Station, Near Mother Dairy Milk Booth, Bengali Market, New Delhi- 110001 Email: manankumarmishra@gmail.com Dear Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra, I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I am writing this letter to your goodself to convey the concerns and apprehensions of Members of the legal profession here in Pakistan, upon the very controversial and discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, recently passed by the Indian Parliament, expecting also at the same time that you will please impress upon the members of the Bar in India to play their due role for upholding the cause of protecting the constitutional fundamental and human rights of all the citizens of India including Muslims who are the second largest population of India. You will please appreciate that we as members of Global legal fraternity, have a great responsibility to stand for the cause of human rights the world over and ensuring to take every possible endeavor for making the world a harmonious and peaceful place for the coming generations. You will please agree that in present days globalized world, any development in our region, based on religious discrimination aimed at to undermine the human rights of a particular segment of society on the basis of religion, shall entail serious consequences endangering the peace and stability of the region. The deliberate exclusion of Muslims from the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, has fundamentally changed the true spirit of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955, besides being violative of Articles 14 & 15 of the Indian Constitution. Thus, adversely affecting the Muslims, amounts to breaching their basic human rights as to equal right of Citizenship. You will please also agree that it is not only against International Laws specially relating to human rights but also violative of various agreements between India and Pakistan, particularly the one concerning security and rights of minorities in the respective Countries. As you know we all being members of the legal profession throughout the world, always raise our voice against any form of human rights abuses and for upholding the rule of law and Constitutionalism and so earnestly hope and expect that Members of the Indian Bar would come forward and play their due role to raise voice against the recent discriminatory legislation in the shape of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, targeting only the Muslims and to impress upon the party in power in India, to do away with the said Amendment in the larger interest of the cause of human rights and Constitutionalism. As this move of the Indian Ruling Party, is in continuation of its earlier most controversial and abusive action of annulling the special status of the Indian occupied Kashmir committing continued atrocities by the Government and its Parliamentary Forces upon Muslims in the valley, the same needs to be undone in the larger national interest of the India and its oft-repeated claim of being Secular state as per its Constitution. It is, therefore, all the more imperative that Members of the Indian Bar should play their due role to pressurize upon the Indian Government to re-consider its controversial steps and undo the discriminate legislation of amending the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, which has become a cause of great sense of deprivation among the second largest population of the Country, for the sake of peace and tranquility of the region. The Bar Council of India may also consider the possibility of filing a Constitution Petition in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India against this controversial and unconstitutional legislation. Profound Regards, Yours Sincerely Sd/- (Syed Amjad Shah) Vice-Chairman Copy to Mr. Satish Abarao Deshmukh, Vice-Chairman, Bar Council of India, Shivaji Nagar, Taluk & Distt. Hingoli, Maharashtra- 431 513 (email: stish.adeshmukh@gmail.com) for information. Sd/- (Syed Amjad Shah) Vice-Chairman Copy to the Press for favor of publication

PRESS RELEASE CORRIGENDUM Apropos to the Press Statement issued by Syed Amjad Shah, Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council, just before, it is clarified that instead of Thursday, the 19th December, 2019, as earlier mentioned in the Statement, THE LAWYERS WILL OBSERVE COUNTRY-WIDE STRIKE TOMORROW I.E. FRIDAY, THE 13TH DECEMBER, 2019, against partial and biased conduct of the local Police and the administration of Lahore against the Lawyers as well as action taken by the Islamabad High Court against the Secretary-General, Islamabad High Court Bar Association. The Lawyers will hold condemnation meetings in their respective Bar rooms.” SECRETARY December 12 , 2019 PRESS RELEASE Condemnation of accesses of Police towards Advocates. Syed Amjad Shah, Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council, has issued the following statement:- “Although the Bar bodies at Federal and Provincial level and their Leaders deplored and condemned the unfortunate incident took place yesterday in Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, when some young Lawyers demonstrated irresponsible conduct, the local administration specially the Police has arrested a large number of Advocates even those who were not present there and the FIR’s have been lodged against them, so much so under the provisions of the Anti-Terrorists Act, which is highly condemnable. At the same time the conduct of the Government and statements of its functionaries singling out and targeting only the Lawyers, is also equally condemnable. Todays action of the Islamabad High Court suspending the licence of the Secretary-General of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, to practice before the High Court, who in pursuance of decisions of different Bar bodies, just was requesting the members of the Bar for observing the Strike, is also highly deplorable. The Lawyers will, therefore, observe country-wide Strike on Thursday, the 19th December, 2019, against partial and biased conduct of the local Police and the administration of Lahore against the Lawyers, when they will hold condemnation meetings in their respective Bar rooms.” SECRETARY

Press Release Archives - Page 2 of 3

31-01-2020

PRESS RELEASE Mr. Abid Saqi, Vice Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council has issued the following statement:- "The Pakistan Bar Council takes strong exception to the most irresponsible handeling of the matter of providing due security to the Hon'ble Cheif Justice of Pakistan during his visits to places outside Islamabad, by the Punjab Police and the Government [...]

By Bakht Bedar|2020-02-01T04:12:46+00:00February 1st, 2020|Press Release|0 Comments

16-01-2020

January 16 , 2020 P R E S S R E L E A S E The 228th meeting of the Pakistan Bar Council was held today at 2-00 p.m. in Council’s Office, Supreme Court Building, Islamabad with Mr. Anwar Mansoor Khan, Attorney-General for Pakistan and Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council in the [...]

By Bakht Bedar|2020-01-20T05:29:39+00:00January 20th, 2020|Press Release|0 Comments

19-12-2019

December 19 , 2019 PRESS RELEASE Syed Amjad Shah, Vice-Chairman and Mr. Sher Muhammad Khan, Chairman, Executive Committee, Pakistan Bar Council, have issued the following statement:- “We strongly condemn and disapprove the statement of Director General, ISPR, who has criticized the Judgment of the Special Court whereunder the Ex-Chief of the Army Staff and Former [...]

By Bakht Bedar|2019-12-20T09:39:10+00:00December 20th, 2019|Press Release|0 Comments

16-12-2019

No.2123/PBC/SEC/2019 December 16, 2019 Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman, Bar Council of India, 58-Todarmal Road, 2nd Floor, Behind Mandi House Metro Station, Near Mother Dairy Milk Booth, Bengali Market, New Delhi- 110001 Email: manankumarmishra@gmail.com Dear Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra, I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I am writing this letter [...]

By Bakht Bedar|2019-12-20T09:40:34+00:00December 16th, 2019|Press Release|0 Comments

12-12-2019

PRESS RELEASE CORRIGENDUM Apropos to the Press Statement issued by Syed Amjad Shah, Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council, just before, it is clarified that instead of Thursday, the 19th December, 2019, as earlier mentioned in the Statement, THE LAWYERS WILL OBSERVE COUNTRY-WIDE STRIKE TOMORROW I.E. FRIDAY, THE 13TH DECEMBER, 2019, against partial and biased [...]

By Bakht Bedar|2019-12-20T09:40:28+00:00December 13th, 2019|Press Release|0 Comments