Detainees should not suffer if advocates go on strike, says SC.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court held on Monday that a detained accused should not be made to suffer because his advocate was on strike.

'The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has enacted the Canons of Professional Conduct and Etiquette of Advocates which stipulates that 'It is duty of advocates to appear in court when a matter is called' and 'make satisfactory alternative arrangements' if he is unable to,' observed Justice Qazi Faez Isa in a judgement.

Justice Isa, who headed a two-judge SC bench, observed that an advocate must discharge his duty towards a client.

'Every relationship functions on the basis of trust and when trust is broken the relationship flounders and unravels, which also has societal repercussions,' observed Justice Isa.

Justice Isa says in 2007, courts were boycotted because the...