The panel of lawyers took serious exception to the Tuesday's incidents of threatening them for representing the referring authority in reference against the Chief Justice (non-functional) and sought security from the Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan.
"It is difficult to continue in prevailing circumstances. Our colleague Dr Khalid Ranjha has submitted an application to the Acting Chief Justice informing him about the abusive language used against him and other panellists by certain protesting lawyers and sought proper security," said Wasim Sajjad, a senior lawyer. He was addressing a news conference flanked by other members of the panel.
However, the panel of lawyers stated it would continue representing the referring authority and appear before the Supreme Judicial Council at its hearing on April 13.
Those who addressed the news conference included advocates Dr Khalid Ranjha, Wasim Sajjad, Arif Chaudhry, Raja Abdur Rehman and Amanullah Kanrani. Wasim Sajjad said the proceedings of the SJC on Tuesday continued smoothly and both the sides represented their clients during the four-hour arguments whether to continue in camera proceedings or hold it in open.
He regretted the treatment meted out to Dr Khalid Ranjha and Chaudhry Arif by certain protesting lawyers, who, he said, used abusive language and insulted both the lawyers. "This is unbelievable that lawyers community could go for such an unethical attitude. This is in entire contradiction to the concept of independence of legal profession," Wasim Sajjad said.
"I never experienced such an indiscipline and misbehaviour by the lawyers community for the fellows. In this situation the legal process cannot continue in a respectable manner," he added. Briefing the media persons, Dr Khalid Ranjha termed this incident uncalled for and humiliating and said, it was basic and constitutional right of any lawyer to represent anybody.
Ranjha who is a member of Pakistan Bar Council and had been elected President of High Court Bar Association twice and Vice Chairman of Punjab Bar Council said, this trend of harassment was contrary to the norms of the Bar Councils and "I appeal the Bar Councils and Bar Associations to condemn this trend."
"The abusive and filthy language used on Tuesday by the protesting lawyers, cannot be supported by any lawyer or Bar Association or Council," he said.
Ranjha said, Supreme Court was a sanctuary of lawyers and the recent attitude of certain protesting lawyers tantamount to contempt, crime as well as a terrorist activity.
"Acting Chief Justice and the Registrar are custodians and I have written to them that in view of all this, it would be difficult for me to continue," he said. When asked about his appearance before the SJC in next hearing, Ranjha said, the matter of providing him security was now with the Acting Chief Justice and the SJC and they have to decide about it.
To a question, he regretted the manhandling of the Chief Justice (non-functional) and said, action had been initiated on it. To another question, he said, he was a Treasury Senator in the Upper House of the Parliament and it is not a crime. "Everybody has his identity and my identity is as a lawyer."
Answering a question, Waseem Sajjad said, none of the lawyers was withdrawing. Ranjha has filed an application seeking security and stating that in prevailing circumstances no lawyer could continue.
"I hope that security will be provided and such circumstances would be ensured where the lawyers would be able to perform their duties independently and without any threat to them," he said. Revealing the circumstances, Arif Chaudhry said, "we stood for the freedom of legal profession. But after Tuesday's incident I am astonished where we are marching to."
He said the principle of freedom of legal profession was violated which would have its repercussions and added, "I fear if the trial is made open, it would be damaging for the institutions and there is also danger of clash." He said it was responsibility of the Acting Chief Justice to ensure security of representing lawyers.
Raja Abdul Rehman said the reference against the Chief Justice was entirely a legal and constitutional matter and it should not be politicised. He said every lawyer was free to represent his client in any court of law and there was no reason for personal liking or disliking.
He described the show of power by the lawyers and political parties as an attempt to influence the proceedings of the SJC and said, "Tuesday's incidents could have led to a big disaster." "This is a new trend. Political parties should keep aloof from this matter and let the process take its course impartially and fairly," he added.
He called upon the lawyers' body to define the parameters of representing their clients if they feel so and said, "stopping anybody from representing their clients forcefully or by violence cannot be supported."