KARACHI, Sept 23: Criticising the superior courts judges who have taken a fresh oath under an alleged deal with the government, representatives of the legal fraternity said on Tuesday that by accepting the offer of reappointment they had betrayed the lawyers’ movement and tried to sabotage it.

Speaking at a joint general body meeting of the Sindh high court and Karachi bar associations held in the Shuhada-i-Punjab hall of the City Courts in connection with the ‘Iftikhar Day’, observed across the country on Thursday in response to a call given by the lawyers’ National Coordination Committee, they said the present judiciary had no courage to oppose or resist any unlawful act or order of the government.

The president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), Rasheed A. Razvi, said the bar had a very clear stance on the reappointments and categorically opposed it as all the deposed judges were still under oath, and there was no justification for a fresh oath, adding that the judges had betrayed the lawyers community by accepting the fresh oath under the law minister’s formula. They also said that there was a provision in the constitution about the reappointment of judges while the government was trying to validate the unconstitutional steps of Nov 3. “A conspiracy is being hatched against the reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and the present government had refused to reinstate him as the rulers knew that Justice Iftikhar’s restoration would strengthen the judiciary while the government could not tolerate an independent judiciary in the country,” he added.

The SHCBA president said the lawyers would not compromise with the pro-Justice Dogar and pro-government forces, and would expose the black sheep in the lawyers’ community.

He criticised some members of the Pakistan Bar Council who reportedly appreciated those judges who had taken a fresh oath. He said the legal fraternity was struggling for the survival of the country, and vowed to continue the movement till the reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar.

The chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council’s executive committee, Yaseen Azad, condemned the judges for accepting the reappointment offer instead of supporting the lawyers’ on-going movement. By doing so, these judges had upheld the imposition of the Nov 3, 2007 emergency and surrendered before the government, he added.

Referring to some criticism he faced after being appointed chairman of the PBC’s executive committee, replacing “the much-respected” Rasheed Razvi, Mr Azad said that differences among the lawyers must not be made public as it would harm the movement.

KBA president Mahmoodul Hasan said it was highly deplorable that a democratic government was following the policies of a retired general, Pervez Musharraf, and was busy establishing a pro-government judiciary.

Karachi Bar Association General-Secretary Naeem Qureshi said that by accepting reappointment, the judges had betrayed the lawyers’ movement and also disregarded the sacrifices of the lawyers rendered during the 17-month movement for the reinstatement of all the deposed judges and for the rule of law in the country.

The speakers also condemned the Marriott Hotel blasts and offered Fateha for the victims.

Meanwhile, PCB executive committee chairman Yaseen Azad scuffled with KBA chief Mahmoodul Hasan, when the latter criticised some members of the Pakistan Bar Council who reportedly met Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Abdul Hameed Dogar and praised the judges for accepting the government offer of reappointment.

However, KBA officer-bearers and other senior lawyers intervened to prevent the situation from worsening.

The lawyers took out a procession from the KBA officer after attending the general body meeting and marched on the premises of the City Courts to mark the ‘Iftikhar Day’. They chanted anti-government and pro-Iftikhar slogans during the procession.

Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was scheduled to address the joint general body meeting over the phone from Islamabad. However, the KBA general-secretary told the meeting that Justice Iftikhar’s address was postponed as the capital was mourning the Marriott Hotel tragedy.