Asma Jahangir sees democracy in danger

KARACHI: Prominent rights activist and former president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)Asma Jahangir on Tuesday said that lawyers will not support any decision which is against the rule of law and democracy.

Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club, she said future generations will not forgive us if democracy was derailed in the country, adding it is about time that we should start resisting undemocratic decisions.

Jahangir said the lawyers’ community will announce their strategy after going through written order of the Supreme Court for arresting Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and other accused in the rental power projects case.

President Sindh High Court Bar Association Mustafa Lakhani said an all parties’ conference was called to discuss the long march of Dr Tahirul Qadri a few days back in Lahore in which the participants, including lawyers, rejected it.

President Karachi Bar Association Naeem Qureshi said the lawyers had taken active part in the movement for independence of judiciary, adding the Karachi bar has given many sacrifices in this regard.

Courtesy: DAWN
http://dawn.com/2013/01/15/asma-jahangir-sees-democracy-in-danger/

Pakistan’s leading lawyers Asma jahangir & Ali Ahmed Kurd questioning using of “contempt of court act” and canceling licenses of Bar members by the top judge of supreme court

Pakistan’s leading lawyers Asma Jahangir & Ali Ahmed Kurd questioning using/abusing of “contempt of court act”  as “Black Law” against the media or the citizens of Pakistan to silence them and canceling licensees of Bar members (lawyers) to impose Judicial Dictatorship” on people  by the top judge of supreme court. The language of the news clip is urdu (Hindi).

» YouTube

Lawyers can do little if judiciary bent upon sending govt home: Asma

By Rana Yasif

Former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir continues her criticism of the judiciary.

LAHORE: Continuing her criticism of the judiciary, former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir has said that there is little that lawyers can do if the institution is poised to send the government packing. “It is difficult to run a government if civilian institutions cooperate with the establishment,” said Jahangir ….

Read more » The Express Tribune

Pakistan – We will not accept any unconstitutional act, says Yasin Azad

According to reports, Supreme Court Bar Association President Yasin Azad says they will not accept any unconstitutional act.

via » Twitter

No justification for military takeover, says Asma Jehangir, the president of Supreme Court Bar Association

– No justification for military takeover, says Asma

By Nasir Iqbal

ISLAMABAD, Sept 23: One of the country`s most prominent human rights activists has expressed her serious concern on the poor performance of the federal and provincial governments, but has warned against this being used as a pretext by the extra-constitutional forces to derail the democratic process.

Asma Jehangir, who is also the president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), told Dawn that under no circumstances issues like the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi or elsewhere could provide justification for any kind of military intervention. However, her fear was that “if civilian governments do not put their house in order, they would soon be sent packing”. In any case, she said, such a move would be disastrous for the country, and could result in more bloodshed and anarchy.

Commenting on a recent media report of possible differences among the top military commanders, with some suggesting a possible take-over, ….

Read more → DAWN.COM

MQM has machinery for violence in Karachi: says Asma Jahangir, President Supreme Court Bar Association

– MQM has machinery for violence in Karachi: Asma Jahangir

By Ahmed Jung

KARACHI: Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Asma Jahangir on Tuesday said the recently released Joint Investigation Team (JIT) reports showed that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had machinery through which it carried out acts of violence in the city.

Speaking during today’s suo motu hearing on Karachi violence, she said the reports not only showed how they carried out the operations, but also how their cells were operating.

The SCBA president said that bhatta collection had been there before the MQM but had become more sophisticated when the party was founded.

She said the situation in the city was very complex and members of the judiciary themselves had experienced that during the May 12 incident.

Jahangir said families of the victims were looking towards the court for justice. ….

Read more → The Express Tribune

Asma Jahangir’s win is victory of democratic forces

Asma Jahangir wins SCBA election
ISLAMABAD: Advocate Asma Jahangir became the first women president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) after she defeated her opponent
Read more : DAWN

Support for Ms Asma Jahangir in SCBA elections

SCBA election down to the wire – By Cyril Almeida
LAHORE: A day before the Supreme Court Bar Association polls, the result of a closely fought election for the presidency of the association appears balanced on a knife edge.
The contest is effectively a straight fight between Asma Jahangir, the legendary human-rights activist, and Ahmed Awais, a candidate of the Hamid Khan-led ‘Professional Group’ which, according to legal circles, often courts right-wing support among the bar. …
Read more : DAWN

Appointment of Judges : President Zardari’s decision is in accordance with the constitution – prominent jurists say

Legal experts divided over appointments

Courtesy: Daily Times

LAHORE: The legal fraternity of the country remained divided over its views on the Supreme Court’s suspension of the presidential appointment of two top judges in an emergency ruling late on Saturday. Former Supreme Court Bar Association, SCBA president Ali Ahmed Kurd said the principle had been set by the SC verdict in the Al-Jihad Trust case that the senior most judge of a high court would be elevated to the Supreme Court. Barrister Zafar Ali Khan and former SC judge Fakhruddin Ebrahim also termed the president’s decision as being in accordance with the constitution. Prominent jurist Fawad Chaudhry said the president’s decision was in accordance with the constitution. He said according to Article 206 of the constitution, the judge stood as “retired” after refusing to accept the decision of elevation. People Lawyers Forum leaders Tanvir Hashmi and Rana Sufiyan Ali said the president’s decision was in accordance with the constitution and the SC verdict in the Al-Jehad Trust case.However, former Punjab advocate general Ashtar Ausaf said the president’s decision is unconstitutional as he acted against the CJP’s recommendations. Senior lawyer Dr Khalid Ranjha said a “vacuum is being deliberately created” to pave the way for third party interference.