SC judgement revives 'doctrine of necessity': PBC

Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) will analyze and announce its future course of action, if any, once the detailed judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of granting six month extension in tenure to Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa is announced.

This was stated by vice-chairman of PBC Syed Amjad Shah while talking to Business Recorder. "Nothing is off the table", including challenging the unconstitutional move of the federal government to bring about amendments to the relevant laws to provide legal cover to the extension in service of Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa," he said.

"Whether to challenge the apex court's decision or not, we will take a decision after thorough consultation as soon as the detailed judgment is announced," Syed Amjad Shah said, adding, "We have not appreciated the Supreme Court's November 28 decision and we believe that 'doctrine of necessity' has been revived once again with the judgment".

"The legal fraternity believes that such decisions will lead to devastation of the institutions as witnessed in the past when important decisions were taken on the grounds of 'doctrine of necessity'...and we have always opposed such moves and will continue to do so", he added.

Shah also referred to the PBC's November 28 statement, saying that the body not only condemned the federal government's measures to grant an extension, however conditional, in service to the incumbent army chief, but also described it as Musharraf's "rescue" as an "unconstitutional move."