President SCBAP rules out All-Pakistan Lawyers Action Committee stance against 26th Constitutional Amendment

ISLAMABAD, Dec 28 (EPI): President Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta has ruled out All-Pakistan Lawyers Action Committee stance against 26 th Constitutional amendment.

We are aware of the recent statement issued by the representatives of the All-Pakistan Lawyers Action Committee, a group we believe lacks legitimacy. Their statement is filled with contradictions and diverges significantly from constitutional provisions.

We firmly assert that this Association strongly supports the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which is now an integral part of our Constitution and the law of the land, and to which everyone should adhere. This Association has always stood for the rule of law, the supremacy of the Constitution, and the Parliament, principles we continue to uphold.

The 26th Amendment itself has strengthened the trichotomy of powers, forming the foundation of a robust federation. It has affirmed the supremacy of Parliament while curtailing judicial activism.

We fully endorse the formation of the constitutional bench, its function, and the proceedings of the last meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP).

We confidently state that the introduction of constitutional benches has improved the delivery of justice to the public and has been instrumental in addressing complex constitutional issues.

It is disheartening to note that the so-called committee is politically motivated and continues to question the competence of the constitutional benches, the JCP, and Parliament as a whole. This behavior is unfounded, as we place our unwavering trust in their capabilities.

We empathize with the representatives of the aforementioned committee, whose political handlers have always believed on the interference in institutions through judicial activism. We are mindful of this support for judicial activism and will not permit them to succeed in their disruptive schemes.

According to the SCBAP Rules 1989, the President serves as the chief executive of the Association. A significant majority of SCBAP members have exercised their democratic right to vote, electing the president and gave him the cabinet to lead.

The support and trust of our members is an invaluable asset and a sacred responsibility that we are committed to uphold. Based on this sacred trust that has been bestowed upon us by vast majority of members, the sole authority to launch any campaign rests solely with us, the elected representatives.

We also hold our former Presidents in high regard; however, we cannot overlook their misconceptions. If they have any concerns, they should approach the appropriate forums, such as SCBAP or the PBC, to discuss their viewpoints in a constructive manner.

Instead, they have chosen to create divisions within the legal fraternity. Their political masters could have raised their voices in National Assembly or the Senate.

We do not wish to challenge their legal expertise, but their assertions are misguided, lack substance, and exhibit a misunderstanding of the benefits that the 26th Constitutional Amendment has provided to the federation, the judiciary and the role of the constitutional bench in facilitating expeditious justice. In this context, we can only say that ignorance can be bliss.

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