KARACHI: The legal fraternity in Karachi and Hyderabad observed a full-day strike on Friday, boycotting judicial proceedings in protest against the passage of the 27th Amendment and to show solidarity with retired Supreme Court justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah, who resigned on principle to uphold judicial independence.
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In Karachi, the City Courts remained closed, preventing litigants from entering, while cases were adjourned due to the Karachi Bar Association’s (KBA) complete strike. Similarly, district and sessions courts in Hyderabad saw minimal activity as lawyers abstained from court proceedings.
KBA Secretary General Rehman Korai praised the retired justices for their principled resignations and expressed concerns over the amendment’s broader implications. He warned that provincial autonomy could be undermined, the NFC Award altered, and education centralised in the future. He also criticised provisions granting the post of Field Marshal lifetime immunity from prosecution.
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The KBA announced that a lawyer convention would be held in Sukkur on Saturday, led by Mr Korai, to further protest the amendment. Sindh High Court Bar Association General Secretary Mirza Sarfaraz said the 27th Amendment targeted the judiciary, noting that Article 199 of the Constitution, which allows high courts to hear certain petitions, was effectively bypassed.