Litigants suffer as lawyers go on countrywide strike for PM’s resignation

Members of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) are observing a countrywide strike today (Wednesday) to seek the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, in light of the damning report of the Panama case Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

Legal proceedings remain suspended at the Lahore High Court and lower courts in Karachi, Lahore and other cities as lawyers register their protest to demand a premier's resignation.

"The protest will continue till the Prime Minister resigns," Secretary Supreme Court Bar Aftab Bajwa said.

PBC Vice Chairman stated that All Parties Conference and Lawyers Convention will be held in case the premier decides against resignation.

Addressing a press conference with PBC office bearers on Tuesday, PBC Vice Chairman Ahsan Bhoon urged the disqualification of those nominated in the high-profile Panama Papers case and expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will take the case to its logical conclusion.

The members called for the resignation of Nawaz, Shehbaz, Dar and their “accomplices” in light of the JIT’s findings and demanded “punitive action against them under the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws and their prosecution for perjury”.

The members also assured support of the legal fraternity to the Supreme Court and said they “will not hesitate to foil any attempt on the part of the ruling party to influence and undermine the dignity and prestige of the apex court”.

Bhoon also blamed Dar for paralysing the country’s economy during his tenure as the finance minister and urged punitive action against “all those who submitted fake documents” in the apex court.