Lawyers intensify protests after PPP, PML-N accord

ISLAMABAD—Member of Pakistan Bar (PBC) Raja Shafqat Abbasi said Monday that the lawyer community was satisfied over the Murree Declaration signed by the leaders of two major political parties for the restoration of deposed judges through a parliamentary resolution.
Thanking leadership of PPP and PML-N, he said the decision was taken after consultations with legal experts. Raja Shafqat Abbasi, a former MNA of PPP, attended the meeting held between the delegations of PPP and PML (N) at Murree. There is no need of movement now and continuation of “Black Flag Week” by the lawyer community, he said while talking to journalists.
He said the week was being observed according to the decision of Supreme Court Bar Association and not of the Pakistan Bar Council. A meeting of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) is being held on March 14 at Lahore and the post-Murree Declaration situation will be discussed in detail, he said. “We should respect the decision as taken by the leadership of
PPP and PML (N) regarding the restoration of deposed judges and leave the matter to the collective wisdom of the parliament,” he said. “We salute Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif for this declaration,” he said. Asked whether the parliamentary resolution would be binding Raja Shafqat Abbasi said, “No; this will be only a consent of the parliament having a recommendatory status.”
Former vice chairman of Pakistan Bar Council Ali Ahmad Kurd has warned there will be “Dama Dam Mast Qalandar” if any attempt is made for backtracking from the agreement over reinstatement of deposed judges. Qalandar. “We welcome the agreement reached between PPP and PML-N over restoration of deposed judges. This is outcome of lawyers struggle. We believe that incoming government will ensure implementation of this accord. However if any bid is made to back out from this agreement or to relegate it , then there will be Dama Dam Mast Qalandar”, he said this while addressing the lawyers on his arrival here for the first time after his release.
The lawyers community led by High Court Bar Sardar Asmat Ullah, vice president Babar Ali, secretary Sajjad Khan and others welcomed him and showered flower petals on him and chanted slogans against the government. Kurd said resignation from his office is left only safe passage for president Musharraf and all the matters be left to newly elected leadership. He announced the legal fraternity will continue their struggle till the reinstatement of deposed judges. Lawyers have now come on the roads and will continue to go ahead till the achievement of their objective, he added. —Agencies