The legal fraternity here in town staged strong protest against the release of Raymond Davis while Lahore High Court Bar Association has announced to observe black-day on Friday (today). Punjab Bar Council gave courts' boycott call to the lawyers for Thursday while slammed the release of killer of two citizens, Raymond Davis and four-hour detention of Asad Manzoor Butt, the counsel for the victim's family.
LHCBA staged a protest march from the bar's premises up to GPO Chowk where lawyers chanted slogans against the government, America and the court. Vice Chairman PBC and the Chairman Executive Committee of the Council, Zafar Mahmood Moghal, termed release of Raymond a conspiracy against the honour and solidarity of the country. They alleged that security agencies whose job is protecting the country, were also involved in the release of Raymond. They said by sending Raymond back, the government has sold out the honour and respect of the nation.
They said after release of Raymond the elements engaged in destroying Pakistan would be encouraged. The Bar leaders said the rulers have given a death blow to the national prestige by setting Raymond free and they would certainly face the music of their act in the time to come.
The General House of LHCBA carried resolutions to hold Federal Government, the Punjab Government, Army Chief, DG ISI, Federal Interior Minister, and CJ LHC responsible for the release of Raymond Davis. The House also called for dismissal of the Federal and the Provincial Government with immediate effect. It also urged the Chief Justice Pakistan to take suo moto notice of Raymond release otherwise the Bar would move a petition before the SC. The Bar also announced to observe black day against Raymond release on Friday (today).
They held equal partner to the Army Chief, DG ISI, and CJ LHC in materialising the 'conspiracy' for the release of Raymond. They said our rulers have proved that we had no independence and sovereignty and are slave to American wishes. They said those who hammered a death nail in the coffin of national honour must be thrown out of the country.
President bar Asghar Ali Gill said release of the murderer of two Pakistanis is in fact, a victory of the America. He said his bar strongly protests and condemns keeping Asad Manzoor Butt in detention for four hours at the Kot Lakphat Jail to debar him from attending proceedings of the case.
The General House meeting was presided over by the Bar President Ashgar Ali Gill while Secretary of the Bar, Arshad Awan Malik, Asad Manzoor Butt, Shakeela Rana, Ahmad Awais, Muhammad Azhar Siddique, Chaudhry Zulfiqar, Musaddue Hussain Asad, Liaqat Ali Qureshi, and Mushtaq Raj advocate spoke to lawyers on the occasion.