PBC elects Abid Saqi as vice-chairman unopposed.

Byline: SHAHID RAO

ISLAMABAD -- The Pakistan Bar Council Thursday elected un-opposed Abid Saqi as its new vice-chairman for 2020 and appreciated Syed Amjad Shah, outgoing vice-chairman for leading the Council with dignity and honour. The Council also 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 former president Pervez Musharraf as unconstitutional.

It was stated in the meeting of PBC held in its office at Supreme Court building while Chairman PBC Awar Mansoor Attorney General for Pakistan, Vice Chairman Syed Amjad Shah and other members attended it. The PBC expressed its opinion that assumption of jurisdiction by a high court at such a stage was uncalled for, more particularly in presence of right of appeal before the Supreme Court 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 extension case and opined that said petition was seemingly taken up out of turn and then unlawful direction to the Parliament for legislation raised many an eye brows.

Calls for reconstitution of Judicial Commission of Pakistan

PBC expressed its grave concerns regarding forced disappearance and unconstitutional detention of advocate Inamur Rahiem 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 over 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 were being made in a non-transparent manner and without meaningful consultations with the stake holders.

The Council also urged the Judicial Commission to forthwith amend rules as proposed by Pakistan and provincial bar councils. It 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...