SBC calls CJP to take notice of ongoing crisis in Sindh

Sindh Bar Council (SBC) on Wednesday called upon Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed to take suo moto notice of recent turn of events in the province.

The resolution came as Supreme Court kept the distance from Sindh Police row in connection to the arrest of Retired Captain Safdar — Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law and Maryam Nawaz's spouse.

At the beginning of the resolution, the council expressed shocked over the report – which was later confirmed by the Sindh Government – of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh’s abduction from his residence by law enforcement agencies ¬¬– Rangers/agencies – and forced him to arrest the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader for allegedly violating the sanctity of Quaid-e-Azam's Mazar.

Following the controversy, top officials of Sindh Police including IGP Mushtaq Mahar applied for leave. However, Mr. Mahar decided to defer his leave and also issued instructions to his officers to take back their leave applications for 10 days in the larger national interest on Wednesday.

The resolution states: “The leave application tendered by dozen of senior police officers throughout Sindh citing demoralisation of force due to this brazen interference in policing functions are a sign of complete breakdown of the rule of law and undeclared martial law.”

Furthermore: “Unfortunately the judiciary of Pakistan has remained a silent spectator in the face of their creeping martial law and indeed is widely being seen as facilitator of elements who wish to carry out an extra-constitutional role.”

“The Sindh Bar Council feels that unless this trend of military interference in civil and judicial administration is immediately reversed it will permanently damage the public reputation and trust not only in the government and the judiciary of Pakistan but also the beloved Armed Forces of Pakistan,” it added.

The council called upon the CJP to fix a hearing of the ongoing crises before a full Court of Supreme Court and issue notice to Vice Chairmen of Bar Councils, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association and to President of the provincial High Court Bar Associations to address the serious implications.