Lawyers’ convention after Eid

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has convened an all Pakistan lawyers convention in Lahore after Eidul Fitr to finalise a protest strategy against the government and to call for separation of the offices of president and army chief.

The convention is to be held on November 20. Justice (r) Rasheed A Rizvi, the vice chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, said in a statement that there would be similar conventions in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. He said the purpose of the conventions was to press General Pervez Musharraf to step down as army chief and repeal the 17th Amendment. He said the war on terrorism did not provide Gen Musharraf a valid reason to retain the offices of president and army chief.

“On the contrary, such circumstances make it absolutely imperative that these two high offices should be separated and held by two different persons so that the efficiency and professional capabilities of the military could be improved to combat terrorism,” he said.

Mr Rizvi also said the 1973 Constitution prohibits generals from becoming president and the same person being president and army chief. He said the bill allowing Gen Musharraf to remain army chief and the 17th Amendment were against the basic structure of the Constitution. online

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