KARACHI, May 2: The legal fraternity on Friday insisted on unconditional reinstatement of all deposed judges and restoration of the judiciary to its November 2 position through an executive order, arguing that since their removal was unconstitutional. They did not need a constitutional amendment to be renistated.

The Karachi Bar Association (KBA) held its general body meeting at the City Courts and resolved that the legal fraternity would continue its struggle till the objectives were achieved. It noted that the future course of action would be decided at the lawyers’ convention in Islamabad on Saturday.

Former advocate-general of Sindh Anwar Mansoor Khan was of the view that if the deposed judges were reinstated through constitutional amendments, it would mean that the Provisional Constitution Order-2007, under which the judges were removed, was part of the Constitution.

“This is the responsibility of the executive to restore the judges. What is needed is the issuance of an executive order and the political will to do so.”

Co-chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Iqbal Hadier said that there was no link between reinstatement of judges and the proposed constitutional package as these were two separate things.

He urged the PPP and the PML-N to honour the Murree declaration in this regard.

He described the May 12 mayhem and the April 9 violence in Karachi as unforgettable tragedies, and urged the government to arrest the culprits. “President Musharraf has destroyed the judiciary and he will have to step down,” he added.

KBA president Mahmoodul Hasan welcomed the announcement made by Mian Nawaz Sharif about the reinstatement of judges but warned that the legal fraternity would not accept any conditions in this regard. He also rejected the proposed changes in judges’ tenure.

KBA general secretary Naeem Qureshi said the legal fraternity was set to resume its struggle but it was giving time to the ruling coalition just to facilitate the ongoing democratic process. Later, relief cheques were handed over to the families of Altaf Hussain Abbasi and Sheharyar, who had lost their lives in the April 9 violence.