Sukkur/Islamabad: Mohsin Sajjad Utra Advocate, President of MWM District Sukkur and a prominent legal expert, has strongly condemned the recent arrest of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha and the retaliatory actions being taken against them.
In his statement, Mohsin Sajjad Utra said that the arrest of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali is not merely an issue concerning two individuals; rather, it is an attack on the dignity and honor of the entire legal fraternity. He stated that the scope of protest is no longer confined to Islamabad alone, but lawyers across Pakistan, including Sukkur, are raising their voices against this injustice.
Key Points of the Statement:
- Professional Protection: Arresting lawyers while they are performing their professional duties is a grave violation of legal rights.
- Misuse of PECA: The government is using cybercrime laws as a weapon to harass dissenters and lawyers.
- Unfair Trial: The cancellation of bail by the court and the hurried conduct of the case amount to the killing of transparent justice.
Strong Criticism of Bar Leadership and Bar Politics
On the other hand, serious questions are being raised by legal circles and civil society regarding the role of major bar associations and their leadership in Pakistan. The press release highlights the following criticisms regarding the silence and inaction of bar leaders:
- Lack of Practical Struggle: Bar leadership has limited itself to issuing paper statements of condemnation only. When Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali were picked up from court premises, bar leaders took no practical steps to stop this illegal arrest.
- Politics Over Principles: Critics say that most bar office-bearers are more engaged in “bar politics” than in protecting justice. They have chosen silence to secure personal interests from the government and powerful quarters and to win upcoming elections.
- Violation of the Sanctity of the Black Coat: Court premises are considered a safe haven for lawyers, but due to the weakness of bar leadership, the police violated this sanctity. The failure of bar leaders to call for a nationwide strike or legal blockade is clear evidence of their incompetence.
- Selective Protest: Bar leadership is accused of raising its voice only for individuals with specific political affiliations, while remaining silent spectators when ordinary lawyers face coercive measures and harassment.
Conclusion:
Mohsin Sajjad Utra and other lawyer leaders have demanded that, in light of the recent interventionist orders of the Islamabad High Court, this “political trial” be terminated immediately. They further demanded that bar councils step out of self-serving politics and take to the field for the protection of lawyers’ rights.
