ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Friday said that the creation of new provinces should be considered in accordance with constitutional principles and procedures.
The statement was made during a meeting held at the PBC office in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti, where the Council passed four resolutions.
The meeting reaffirmed the legal fraternity’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and said it firmly believes that all constitutional matters must be addressed strictly within the constitutional framework. “The PBC members were of the unanimous view that the question of creating new provinces should be considered in accordance with the constitutional principles and procedures.”
They emphasised that all political parties, irrespective of their political differences, should act in the larger national interest and initiate a comprehensive and meaningful dialogue for the betterment of the country and the people.
The Council resolved that if the establishment of new provinces is necessary, then that must be carried out strictly in accordance with the Constitution through due parliamentary process and national consensus.
The PBC strongly condemned the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) for issuing notices and detaining Islamabad-based journalists under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). It demanded that the government immediately withdraw all such illegal notices and refrain from any actions that undermine the constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
The Council said that the legal fraternity has always stood in support of an independent and free media as a fundamental pillar of democracy and the rule of law, and will continue to oppose any attempt to intimidate, harass, or curtail the independence of the media.
The meeting authorised the PBC Vice-Chairman and Chairman, Executive Committee, to organise a national seminar by inviting leaders of all political parties, whose representation exists in the Parliament, as well as representatives of the Provincial Bar Councils, for meaningful dialogue and to develop a broad-based, comprehensive, and national consensus.
The Council strongly condemned the unlawful, illegal, arbitrary and completely unwarranted raid conducted by the Punjab Police at the residence of Attorney General for Pakistan and Chairman Pakistan Bar Council Mansoor Usman Awan on 27 July 2026 in Lahore.
The Council noted with grave concern that police officials allegedly trespassed into his residence without any lawful authority or search warrant, in blatant violation of the sanctity and privacy of the home, including the cherished principle of the sanctity of the ‘chadar and chardiwari’.
It was observed that the police unlawfully surrounded the residence, vandalized the premises, threatened and harassed the employees present therein, and caused damage to flower pots and other property situated outside the residence during the operation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026