GREAT ARTICLE FROM A REAL LAWYER
GREAT ARTICLE FROM A REAL LAWYER
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Mr. Ahsan, Be A Leader, Accept Responsibility
By YASMEEN ALI
Wednesday, 9 April 2008.
LAHORE, Pakistan—The violence witnessed against Sher Afghan by the lawyers is a manifestation of their attitude, their confusion and how they place themselves above the law in the name of the ‘Lawyers Movement’.
For many long months now, the so called leaders of this movement had taken upon themselves - suo motto - the agenda of restoring the judiciary, in the process making themselves unaccountable for their deeds.
These so called leaders were backed by many fellow lawyers, who, over a period of time, have repeatedly demonstrated a total lack of tolerance toward even other fellow lawyers not subscribing to the same point of view.
Egged on, by these leaders, the lawyers made an uncalled for and unprovoked attack on a single, old, unarmed man. This from the Criers of Democracy!
But now, no one,is ready to accept the buck!
In his press address to the media, Aitzaz Ahsan, tried first to place the blame on "police forces", then the "Caretaker Government". Last but not the least, he decided to place the blame at the door of a weak Presidency!
Anyone and everyone but himself! Squarely responsible for this incident are the leaders themselves, in urging on the Lawyers to take law into their hands.
The newly empowered government had promised to deal with the issue of judiciary within a stipulated period of time. As a matter of principle, the Parliament should have been given the time stated to fulfill it's word.
But this would have stolen the limelight from certain elements. Call was given for a Long March, rallies and boycotts continued in total defiance of the Parliament and the Party policy to which Aitzaz belongs!
Although Aitzaz stated his decision to resign as SCBA President, Munir Malik later stated, it is a token gesture.
Indeed!
Saanp bhi mar giya aur lathi bhi na tooti!
Aitzaz Ahsan should stop trying to pass the buck to one after another and accept responsibility where responsibility is due. This is how a leader should behave. IF he is man enough, he should not only stand by his resignation from the SCBA presidency but also as member of PPP, a party whom he has repeatedly flaunted, shamed and let down.
I am ashamed today, to be a lawyer!
Are they?
I doubt it!
Yasmeen A. Ali is a lawyer and a commentator based in Lahore. She can be reached at [EMAIL="[email protected]"][email protected]