Pakistani lawyers to protest 21st Amendment courts

The Express Tribune reports that Pakistani lawyers will run a continuing protest on Thursdays in response to the country's new military courts:

The announcement was made at the All Pakistan Lawyers Convention, organised by the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA).

“We have strong reservations over the armed forces’ involvement in politics as it will lower their dignity,” the participants said. They said lawyers would observe a black day on every Thursday.

They rejected the amendment and termed establishment of military courts in conflict with fundamental rights and basic structure of the constitution.

Lawyers from across the country participated in the convention. Karachi Bar Association president Naeem Qureshi, Peshawar Bar Association president Razaullah Khan, Ijaz Mahmond from FATA, Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Azam Nazir Tarar, Pakistan Bar Council member Hamid Khan, Supreme Court Bar Association former president Asama Jahangir, LHCBA president Shafqat Mehmood and Lahore Bar Association president Ishtiaq Amed Khan were among the participants.

At the same time, the judges in charge of the existing non-military anti-terrorism courts are redoubling their efforts to expedite the administration of justice.

Side note: it now appears that some of the reporting on the Supreme Court's recent initial hearing erred in suggesting that the petitioners had requested a stay from the court. Not so; petitioners' counsel instead merely asked that the government not proceed given the court's directive that the Attorney General and Advocates General file responses to the petitions.