LAHORE, Nov 17: Former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jahangir has urged all parties to act with maturity.

The parties should accept accountability for all through due process and let the country take a new turn so that democratic transition takes root, she said in a statement issued on Saturday.

Ms Jahangir said the present political atmosphere had given rise to speculation that could have a negative impact on democratic stability and judicial independence. She said bar associations must play an independent role in defending the institution of the judiciary from onslaughts by the establishment.

At the same time, she added, the bar ought to expect that judges depoliticise themselves and move away from power-oriented moves.

She said the recent elections of bar associations witnessed the fact that the legal fraternity by and large was highly disillusioned by the present role of the superior judiciary. However, despite severe differences, the bar associations would not tolerate any unconstitutional move against any judicial institution, she added.

She further said the lawyers had vowed to uphold the rule of law and strengthen democracy. The lawyers would deliver this promise by taking principled stand during this period of speculation and uncertainty, she concluded.