Aggressive lawyers.

Byline: Tasneem Noorani

MORE disconcerting than the lawyers' raid on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology was the sight of respectable political elders of the lawyer community defending them on electronic media. Some said it was a conspiracy against lawyers to malign them, others that they were justified in their action because of the provocative videos of young doctors (which were 'made' to go viral). Some asserted that it was the government's fault for not stopping the lawyers. One even threatened that the legal community would set the country on fire unless the 'defamation' of lawyers stopped.

While there may be some truth in all this, the point that was missed was that the lawyers are custodians of the law and if they resort to taking the law into their own hands, how can society blame murderers, terrorists and rapists? Each category has its own provocation when they commit their gruesome acts.

In effect, the leaders of the lawyers are condoning violence when it is committed in the face of an insult. God help this society if that is the mindset of teachers, researchers and practitioners of the rule of law on whom the whole edifice of a civilised society rests.

The most confusing aspect was that each of these lawyer leaders is otherwise honourable, honest and brave. They have stood up to state persecution and military dictators to defend the rule of law and the Constitution. Some have sacrificed attractive political careers for the sake of principles.

The explanation for these leaders defending violent young lawyers seems to be based on two factors. One, they are in bar politics and cannot afford to offend their main voter base ie these aggressive lawyers. Second, they fear being roughed up by them, like advocate Naeem Bokhari once was.

Bar elections are held every year at the district, provincial and national level for which politicking continues for the entire year. Campaigning is an unending process. The most aggressive and macho amongst the young lawyers stands a good chance of being inducted into panels and getting elected. If they continue to prove their macho persona through physical assaults, they benefit in subsequent elections for higher posts.

The lawyers with elected titles in bar associations enjoy immense powers and influence over the mid-level judiciary and in some instances the higher judiciary. They thus may have a better chance of winning cases or getting immediate relief from judges, who are under implicit threat of...