Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that there was no concept of observing strikes in Islam and that observing strikes was also against the certain provisions of the constitution.

A two-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Qazi Faez Isa observed this while hearing a bail application.

Justice Khan noted that the lawyers who do not appear before courts on account of strikes negate the constitutional system.

The court accepted the bail application of Waqas Ahmad, who was accused of injuring Maqsood Ahmad in Vihari in June 2016, against the surety bond of Rs 0.1 million.

Justice Isa noted that the day lawyers do not appear before the courts, the salary of that day becomes haraam for the judges. He remarked that today lawyers go on strikes and tomorrow the prosecutors and judges would also go on strike. “When I was chief justice of Balochistan High Court, I did not let lawyers go on strike for a single day,” Justice Isa remarked, adding that they have to ensure timely provision of justice.

Justice Khan noted that when traffic police issues challan to a lawyer, the lawyers go on strike the next day. Advocate Khalid Zulfiqar Maluka, who appeared in the case, stated that after the lawyers’ movement for restoration of Judiciary in 2007, the lawyers have gone out of control. Justice Khan noted that the movement for the restoration of judiciary had a constitutional stance and was launched for the restoration of the constitution.

Published in Daily Times, December 28^th 2017.