LAHORE: Leaders of the Supreme Coud Bar Association (SCBA) and Lahore High Coud Bar Association (LHCBA) on Friday distanced themselves from human rights activist and lawyer Asma Jahangir`s statements against the judiciary made the day before, imploring her to be careful while issuing statements against state institutions.

Speaking at a joint press conference, leaders of the bar associations denounced Ms Jahangir`s remarks, saying that they viewed the Supreme Coun`s decision in the Panama Papers case as a landmark judgement against corruption.

SCBA secretary Aftab Bajwa, LHCBA president Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali and finance secretary Zaheer Butt spoke at the press conference.

Mr Bajwa claimed the legal fraternity stood by the judiciary but some `black sheep` had started a vilification campaign against state institutions at the behest of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. Rejecting Ms Jahangir`s statements on the Supreme Court verdict, he said she did not represent the bar.

The secretary added the bar would take stern action against such lawyers if they did not stop the vilification campaign against judiciary and armed forces.

Mr Ali said the judiciary in the country was independent and its decisions were within the parameters of the law and the constitution. He urged Ms Jahangir to be careful in the future while giving statements against state institutions. He said the appointment of Justice ljazul Ahsan to supervise the National Accountability Bureau references against the Sharif family was within the law as well.