Bar bodies put their full weight behind 26th, 27th Amendments, FCC

ISLAMABAD: The top Bar bodies of the legal fraternity supported and endorsed the 26th & 27th Amendments, and the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court. A joint meeting of Pakistan Bar Council’s Vice-Chairman, its Chairman Executive Committee, President & Secretary Supreme Court Bar Association; Vice-Chairmen & Chairmen of Executive Committees of Provincial/Islamabad Bar Councils, President & Secretaries of High Court Bar Associations was held on Thursday at the Council’s office. Vice-chairman of the PBC Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti chaired the meeting, which passed various resolutions. Upholding “Lawyers Protection Act”, in its true intent, ensures that lawyers can perform their role as officers of the court without fear, thereby preserving the rule of law and guaranteeing that every citizen receives fearless and fair legal representation. They reiterated that Bar bodies of the legal fraternity have always stood for upholding the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the supremacy of institutions, and adherence to the Constitution. READ MORE: PBC, SCBA reiterate their support to FCC establishment The meeting said, “The Parliament is competent to make Amendments in the Constitution and also make new laws for the welfare of the people of Pakistan. Moreover, developments in the shape of 26th & 27th Constitutional Amendments, we fully support and endorsed that, in furtherance establishment of Constitutional Court through 27th Constitutional Amendment, since it was our demand since decades that it should be established with equal representation of the provinces for hearing of constitutional and political matters, so that general public cases should also be fixed and decided by the Supreme Court of Pakistan timely. ” The representatives of the top Bar bodies demanded that all vacancies in the superior judiciary be filled within one month, and the vacancies in the High Court that became vacant due to transfer of judges from one High Court to another must be filled by candidates from the respective High Court, and not through new appointment. The judges should not be reappointed after their retirement, they added. The meeting regretted that certain political factions within the legal community are attempting to create chaos just to achieve their ulterior political motives and to advance/promote their political agenda. They condemned the use of unethical and derogatory language against judges and the judiciary. The joint meeting demanded from the federal government that Section 54 of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, be amended, and the powers of suspension of the practicing license of advocates shall lie with the Bar Councils instead of the superior judiciary. The meeting disapproved of the involvement of the superior judiciary in internal affairs of the Bar Councils, and said that, as self-regulating bodies, Bar Councils are designed to function independently of the Bench to ensure professional standards and democratic processes. The Bar bodies’ representatives demanded that the judges of the lower judiciary of Islamabad also be transferred to other provinces, like Islamabad High Court judges and their seats be filled through the transfer of judges from respective provincial High Courts. They demanded that cases should be registered against any advocate or any organization involved in character assassination of any lawyer, bar representative, or judges of the superior judiciary through Social Media, under the Cyber Crime Act, and they must be tried immediately. However, the cases against lawyers under the Anti-Terrorism Act should not be registered, and the cases already registered against them should be withdrawn forthwith. They appreciated and commended the continuous efforts of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed AsimMunir, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, their successful mediation efforts that have resulted in the cessation of hostilities between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America. They congratulated the people of Pakistan and the government on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq and paid tributes to the Armed Forces of Pakistan for their effective, courageous, aggressive, and immediate response. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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