Panama Papers: PBC willing to assist SC

Vice-Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Dr Farogh Nasim on Friday said that the Constitution empowers Supreme Court to hear pleas on the Panama Leaks, saying if the apex court seeks help from the Council then it would be ready to assist. Dr Nasim these remarks while addressing a press conference along with recently elected President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Rashid Rizvi and vice-chairmen of Punjab and Balochistan Bar Councils.
The PBC demanded the federal and Balochistan governments fulfil their commitments made with the families of the persons killed in Quetta blast. Dr Faroogh said that the compensation announced has not been paid to the heirs of the dead and the injured so far.
Before the media persons, the PBC vice-chairman handed over a cheque of Rs 17 million to the Vice-Chairman of Balochistan Bar Council Khalil Panazai to distribute the money among the victim families.
Terming the Quetta incident a major turmoil after the Fall of Dhaka, Dr Nasim said nothing has been done to boost the morale of Balochistan lawyers' community. Demanding the withdrawal of Supervisory Committee constituted by the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court for an action against the lawyers who misbehaved with judges, the vice-chairman Punjab Bar Council condemned the committee while terming its constitution against the law.
He was of the view that taking action against lawyers over misconduct does not fall under the jurisdiction of a high court judge, adding that the Punjab Bar has got an FIR registered against those lawyers who have been found guilty of misconduct. The Supreme Court Bar Association and Pakistan Bar Council also expressed concern over the prevailing system of nomination of persons as judges for superior courts, saying the lawyers' bodies are not being consulted in the appointment of judges of superior courts.
Rizvi said the Sindh and Balochistan Bar Councils have recommended names for appointments as judges in high courts but the Judicial Commission of Pakistan did not consider them. Responding to a question, Rizvi said the Parliament discussed the Panama issue but it failed to resolve it; therefore, the opposition parties approached the Supreme Court.