Karachi bar cancels Farogh Naseem, Anwar Mansoor’s memberships

KARACHI (92 News) – The Karachi Bar Association has cancelled the memberships of Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem and Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan. According to the details, the bar association has revoked their memberships over a reference filed against senior judges of the Supreme Court. It has also demanded their resignations. The decision to cancel their memberships was made during a general body meeting. Earlier before, the senior lawyers held a meeting with the law minister in his office. During the meeting, Dr Farogh Naseem assured them that he has no link with filing the reference against senior judges of the Supreme Court. The law minister also informed that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) sent him references and he attested the reference only. “I forward the references to the Supreme Judicial Council which will take any decision regarding to the matter,” he said. A day earlier, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) announced to countrywide protest on June 14 in response to a reference filed against senior judges of the top court.

Addressing a press conference, PBC vice chairman Amjad Shah said no notice was served to judges under section 176, adding that this is a weak reference. He said Dr Firdous Awan should speak wisely while talking to media.

The PBC members also demanded resignations of the law minister and the attorney general of Pakistan, stating that the May 28 reference against the top court judge was based on ‘mala fide’ intent. The PBC vice chairman urged the government to immediately withdraw the reference. “Purpose of the protest is to guard the essence of the Constitution and preserve the supremacy of law,” he explained. He said the protest would be against government and reference filed against honorable judges. He said the reference does not come under the ambit of misconduct and Supreme Judicial Council. He demanded government must retract this reference. He said the lawyers would record their protest on June 14 peacefully. He said the rulers must not adopt the thinking of kings, adding that the protest is against the filing of wrong reference. The PBC vice chairman clarified that the protest is not borne by pressure from any political party and is exclusively the decision of the lawyers.