The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) expressed has its deep concern over what it says a clash between the judiciary and executive which could result in destabilising the country and the democratic process. The SCBA Executive Committee held a meeting at the Supreme Court building on Thursday where a resolution against the government for defying the court's orders' was adopted unanimously.
The SCBA strongly condemned what it said action of those at the helm of affairs responsible for disobeying the apex court orders and warned the government that the Association would exercise all its options including reviving the lawyers' movement.
The SCBA Executive Committee fully supports the Supreme Court and stands behind it in their resolve for the supremacy of constitution and rule of law, failing which the SCBA shall take appropriate measures, stated the resolution. The meeting also condemned what it termed the dreadful, draconian and unconstitutional Regulation, namely "Action in Aid to Civil Power Regulation 2011 for FATA and PATA Area." In this regulation, all the basic rights of the citizens have been bulldozed.
It has a retrospective effect to cover the illegal actions of the security forces since February 2008. The armed forces have been given the power to arrest and detain any citizen of PATA and FATA, according to it. The law grants the forfeiture of property without any recourse to judicial authorities.
Furthermore, the Qanoon-e-Shahdat (Evidence Act) is made inapplicable to indefinitely without producing the detainee before a court of law. Death sentence under this law can be awarded on the oral statements of army personnel - whether true or false. It was also resolved that this forum demands for an urgent withdrawal of the regulation as "it militates against all constitutional norms and basic fundamental rights."