PESH AWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council announced boycott of court proceedings across the province today (Tuesday) in protest against the decision of Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) regarding suspension of the powers of Peshawar High Court under Article 199 of the Constitution.
A statement issued here said that the emergency meeting of bar council’s general body had taken place on Saturday with KPBC vice-chairman Mohammad Rafiq in the chair.
Besides, the chairman of its executive committee Sardar Waqarul Mulk and other members also attended the meeting.
The statement said that KPBC members voiced their concerns aboutthe FCC decision regarding the suspension of PHC powers. ‘This decision has usurped the basic rights in KP and it is a great injustice to people of the province,’ it added.
The meeting decided that KPBC would petition to become a party in this case and panel of lawyers was constituted -for the purpose. This panel of lawyers will immediately move FCC in this regard.
KPBC also decided that lawyers would not appear before courts across the province on Tuesday in protest against the FCC verdict.
The statement said that KPBC and lawyers opposed undemocratic actions like governor’s rule and emergency and they would raise their voice on every forum for restoration of democracy.
On Thursday last, a two-member bench of FCC declared: ‘Since the armed forces have been called to act in aid of civil power in the entire province of KP pursuant to the Oct 11 order, the proceedings before PHC instituted under Article 199 on or after Oct 12 shall, in terms of Clause 4 of Article 245, remain suspended.Following FCC order, PHC administrative committee on Friday decided not to proceed with petitions filed under Article 199 on or after Oct 12.
The committee also decided not to entertain fresh petitions and return them to petitioners, directing them to approach the ‘appropriate’ forum.
This decision is likely to affect several high profile cases filed under Article 199, including petitions against the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP.
It will also affect petitions regarding the alleged illegal detention or ‘abduction’ of dysfunctional Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar and several other lawmakers and leaders of PTI.
The decision will also affect other categories of cases, especially those challenging the detention of PTI leaders and workers under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, as well as the cases involving the ongoing anti-encroachment campaigns, habeas corpus pleas, service matters and family.