PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council on Saturday announced complete boycott of courts across province on January 8 against amendments made by the provincial government to the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) 1908, and introduction of a provincial anti-narcotics law.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, KP Bar Council vice-chairman Saeed Khan advocate said that the legal fraternity would not appear in courts and the lawyers would reach Peshawar from different districts to participate in a protest rally outside the KP Assembly.

He said that the decision to observe boycott was taken in a general body meeting of the bar council held here on Saturday wherein a large number of lawyers shared their views against the amendments.

“The meeting discussed the recent amendments to Code of Civil Procedure and the anti-narcotics law and after deliberations the lawyers decided to start protest demonstrations against the amendments as the government is not paying attention to our demands,” he said.

Ask govt to withdraw amendments to Code of Civil Procedure

He said that the lawyers from the Peshawar High Court principal bench-affiliated districts, including Peshawar, Kohat, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda and Nowshera, would reach Peshawar to stage a protest meeting on January 8 and also register protest in front of the provincial assembly.

The KP Bar Council, he said, had set a deadline of Jan 8 for acceptance of their demands, adding that the provincial government should withdraw the amendments. otherwise the lawyers could start protest demonstrations and complete boycott of courts.

Saeed Khan said that in the wake of the three-day consecutive boycott of courts in December after the decision taken in the meeting of December 7, 2019, the chief minister had held a meeting with a representative delegation.

“During that meeting, the government had assured that the concerned amendments would be suspended for six months and new draft would be prepared in consultation with lawyers,” he claimed.

He said that a meeting of the bar council held on December 14 had declared negotiations with the government as positive and deferred agitation. However, he said that the government did not honour its commitment of suspension of the amendments.

He recalled that a delegation of the lawyers once again held a meeting with a representative official delegation of the provincial minister for law, secretary law and advocate general.

The KP Bar Council vice-chairman said that the government delegation expressed readiness that in next meeting the representatives of the lawyers would present proposals and the amendments would be withdrawn.

Therefore, another meeting between the lawyers and government delegation was held on January 2 and despite submission of written proposals, the official committee did not pay attention rather created hurdles.

“So far both the parties have failed to reach any decision that shows the lack of interest on part of the government in withdrawal of amendments with consensus,” he said.

Besides, he said that the general body of the KP Bar Council had appreciated the verdict given by the special court in Pervez Musharraf case.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2020