Lawyers in Punjab and Sindh are on strike today (Tuesday) in protest of the ‘unconstitutional’ annulment of the no-confidence motion and dissolution of the National Assembly (NA).
The Punjab Bar Council (PBC) has called for a general strike across the province on Saturday (today) in protest of the government’s ‘unconstitutional’ actions.
“Lawyers have a life-long commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law,” the PBC declaration states.
“The NA deputy speaker’s rejection of the no-confidence motion, accusing the opposition of being complicit in a foreign conspiracy, is unconstitutional,” it added.
“It is also unconstitutional for Pakistan’s President to dissolve the National Assembly on the recommendation of a prime minister facing a no-confidence motion,” it stated.
“Lawyers condemn the president’s decision to reject the deputy speaker’s no-confidence resolution and dissolve the National Assembly. “Attorneys will abstain from appearing in court today in protest,” the declaration reads.
Meanwhile, complainants are experiencing significant inconvenience as a result of the lawyers’ strike, with hearings on numerous cases being postponed.
On the other hand, the Sindh Bar Council (SBC) has petitioned the Supreme Court to challenge the no-confidence motion’s rejection.
The petition states that the court should order a re-vote on the no-confidence motion, declaring the NA deputy speaker’s ruling null and void.
“The President’s order dissolving the legislatures should be declared unconstitutional. The NA deputy speaker was obligated to allow voting on the no-confidence motion because it cannot be rejected without the assembly’s consent. “At the prime minister’s request, the deputy speaker and president acted in an unconstitutional manner,” it added.
The SBC had also called for a strike on Tuesday in protest of the deputy speaker’s ruling (today). However, court business continued as usual, with lawyers and complainants appearing in court.
