Pakistan Bar Council goes on strike today

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has announced that lawyers will observe a countrywide strike on Thursday to protest what they claimed “unconstitutional moves” of the federal government regarding Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure extension.

The strike was call to protest against extending the tenure of COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and ‘rescue’ former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf from punishment for committing high treason.

The PTI-led government is currently engaged in the Supreme Court where it is defending the procedure under which Prime Minister Imran Khan approved an extension in the tenure of Gen Bajwa.

Also, the interior ministry earlier this week petitioned the Islamabad High Court to halt a special court from announcing its judgement in the high treason case against Musharraf. Its plea was accepted by the IHC today.

READ MORE: IHC to resume Musharraf treason case today

Pakistan Bar Council’s Vice-Chairman Syed Amjad Shah and chairman of the lawyers’ body executive committee,

Sher Muhammad Khan strongly condemned “the belated efforts and manoeuvrings” of the government after the Supreme Court’s order for rectification of mistakes it made in issuing a notification of granting extension in service of the incumbent army chief.

The notification for General Qamar’s reappointment was issued on August 19, which said that he would continue to serve as the COAS until November 2022.

The apex court is currently hearing a petition challenging the government’s move.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PBC denounced the government’s move of bringing about hurried amendments is some relevant laws in an attempt to overcome its inefficiency in the matter.

The lawyers’ body also disapproved and condemned the “unjustified and unprecedented move”, in violation of constitutional provisions and earlier decisions of the federal government, to approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking to bar the special court from announcing the verdict it reserved in the high treason case.

READ ALSO: LHC to hear Pervez Musharraf’s petition in high treason case today

The announcement comes hours after the IHC accepted a request filed by the interior ministry and barred the special court from announcing its November 19 order.

The special court is trying the former military ruler for “subverting the Constitution” in 2007.

The high court has now asked the federal government to form a new prosecution team for the high treason case by December 5 and also directed the special court to hear pleas of all sides and decide Musharraf’s case in accordance with the law.