Top judge defiant over terror case against lawyers

ISLAMABAD: A group of lawyers have had a noisy argument with Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar after he insisted on applying a section of the Anti-terrorism Act (ATA) on attorneys implicated in a scuffle inside the court premises.

The lawyers were calling for the removal of Section 7 of the ATA from the FIRS registered against them, and restraining police oficials from arresting them. After Justice Nisar refused to budge, the lawyers walked out of the court and staged a sit-in at the GPO Chowk Lahore.

Earlier, the lawyers crowded the chief justice’s court and shouted “shame, shame” when Justice Nisar commenced proceedings on a suo motu notice on a scufle in the sessions court during which the lawyers had thrashed a police oficial. “Being the father of the judiciary, I feel ashamed of the lawyers’ actions,” said the chief justice.

Lahore Bar Association (LBA) President Malik Arshad retorted that nothing wrong had happened. “My Lord, you have nothing to be ashamed of,” he said.

Harsh comments were exchanged between the top judge and the lawyers who wanted a prompt relief.

But Justice Nisar made it clear he would not be pressured and everything would be done in accordance with the law.

“I am ready to tender resignation and [even] face abusive language but I will dispense justice on merit,” he asserted. “Lawyers chanting slogans … will not be allowed [to enter] again in this court room.”

When the Lahore Bar Association Secretary, Sohail Murshad, loudly called for stopping the lawyers’ arrests, the chief justice remarked, “Do you know where you are? Why should I stop the lawyers’ arrest? Why can’t the lawyers be arrested? Are they above the law? If someone commits an offence, he must be arrested.”

The lawyers threatened to stage a sit-in if their demands were not met immediately.

On this, the chief justice told them to go and stage a sit-in, adding that he was ready to face the consequences.

Arguing that conspiracy was being hatched against lawyers, the LBA president insisted that the lawyers had not thrashed the policeman. Justice Nisar remarked they should have notiied accordingly.

The lawyers started shouting “shame, shame” which irked chief justice. “You should be ashamed,” he said. “I will watch the video clip in the court and determine what had actually taken place in the sessions court.”