‘LFO will exist till rulers are in office’

By Abid Butt

LAHORE: If the government does not undo the Legal Framework Order (LFO) just because General Pervez Musharraf is Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and president of Pakistan, and Mr Zafarullah Khan Jamali is a pro-Musharraf prime minister, even then the LFO would cease to exist when its ‘inventors’ leave their offices.

Mr Arif Chaudhry, advocate, the recently elected Vice Chairman of Punjab Bar Council (PBC), said this talking to Daily Times here on Sunday.

He said he hoped the government would introduce a judicial system based on equality.

Talking about his role as vice chairman of PBC, Mr Chaudhry said he would help create liaison between bar and bench.

He also stressed the need to establish a relationship of mutual respect for smooth working.

He said under Section 57 of the Legal Practitioners and Punjab Bar Council Act, it was the responsibility of the government of Punjab to approve an annual grant of Rs 10 million for the bar. He deplored the fact that due to various political reasons the government had withdrawn this grant a few years ago.

He said the PBC would raise the issue for restoration of this grant. He also agreed to the public view that judges of higher courts were sometimes forced to make decisions under pressure of certain ‘big guns’.

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