February 9, 2025
PRESS RELEASE

Joint Statement

This statement is jointly issued by the Pakistan Bar Council, the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, the Punjab Bar Council, the KPK Bar Council, the Balochistan High Court Bar Association, and the Sindh High Court Bar Association.

We, the elected representatives of the aforementioned bodies of the legal fraternity, have always stood for upholding the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the supremacy of institutions, and adherence to the Constitution. It is with regret that we note certain political factions within the legal community are attempting to create chaos and division to achieve their ulterior political motives and realize their questionable political agendas. They have issued a so-called call for protest/strike aimed at sabotaging the meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, which is scheduled to discuss the important issue of elevations to the Supreme Court. We strongly reject and condemn such calls and assure these factions that their futile exercise, driven by political elements, is destined to fail and will soon be rendered ineffective.

Once again, we, the elected representatives, want to make it explicitly clear that we will support all proceedings of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) . We reiterate that the formation of the JCP is, by far, the most balanced in recent times, and there is absolutely no reason to cast doubt on the integrity or competence of the JCP, its formation, or any of its members. We approve the 26th Constitutional Amendment and the events that have followed, as part of the Constitution. It is incumbent upon every law-abiding citizen to adhere to this framework.

The decision to call for strikes rests solely with elected representatives, not with unelected disruptive elements. Such elements must be outrightly condemned for their opposition to an independent judiciary fulfilling its constitutional and legal obligations. we urge the legal community to stand united in support of the rule of law, judicial independence, and constitutional governance, and to reject the divisive forces at play within our midst.

SECRETARY