LHCBA rejects ‘re-appointment’ of sacked judges.

* Association president condemns US-led attacks in Tribal Areas

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Thursday rejected the ‘re-appointment’ of some sacked judges.

The bar also demanded that the government reinstate all sacked judges to their pre-November 3 position. During a general house meeting, the LHCBA passed a resolution unanimously that President Asif Ali Zardari had taken oath from “an unconstitutional chief justice”.

The lawyers reiterated that Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was the constitutional chief justice of Pakistan (CJP).

Addressing the general house meeting, the lawyers hoped that Justice Iftikhar and all the sacked judges would be reinstated soon.

They said the president and the prime minister were not more powerful than General (r) Musharraf, adding that Zardari should have taken oath from Justice Iftikhar in line with Pakistan People’s Party’s slain chairwoman Benazir Bhutto’s will. They, however, doubted that the PPP leadership would not reinstate the sacked judges.

LHCBA President Anwar Kamal said, “On the 60th death anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam, we have promised to continue our struggle for the rule of law and the independence of judiciary. Musharraf added Article 270-AAA to the constitution unconstitutionally to pave the way for incumbent Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.”

Condemn: He condemned the American-led attacks in the Tribal Areas and demanded that the United States release Dr Aafia Siddiqui and her children.

Sindh Bar Council (SBC) Vice-Chairman Moazam Leghari, SBC Executive Committee Chairman Haleem Siddiqui, Multan High Court Bar Association (MHCBA) President Mahmood Ashraf Khan, Dera Ismail Khan High Court Bar Association President Daud Khan, Karachi Bar Association President Mahmoodul Hassan, Mansehra Bar Association President Hafiz Naseem, Gujrat District Bar Association President Badarul Islam, Jhelum District Bar Association President Sheikh Asghar, and Rahim Yar Khan District Bar Association President Sardar Zafar Iqbal also spoke on the occasion.

link: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C09%5C12%5Cstory_12-9-2008_pg7_33