Tel: 020 7320 5764

Press Release

Law Society reinforces its support for lawyers in Pakistan

Date Published: 12-03-2009


12 March 2009
 
Law Society reinforces its support for lawyer in Pakistan

The Law Society today repeated its public declaration of support for lawyers and judges in Pakistan to coincide with the Pakistan lawyers “long march”, which takes place this week.

“The Law Society of England and Wales reiterates its support for the lawyers of Pakistan as they continue to advocate for the renewal of the rule of law in their country. We echo their demands for the reinstatement of judges deposed by the Musharraf government in November 2007, as promised by the recently elected government, and wholeheartedly support their demands for a truly independent judiciary. We also stand with them as they call for action on the arbitrary disappearances of Pakistani citizens.”

Law Society Council Member Razi Shah, who is in Pakistan, plans to participate in the long march with a formal letter of support from Law Society President, Paul Marsh.

Mr. Marsh says, “The Law Society is proud to stand today with the lawyers of Pakistan as they struggle to uphold and defend the rule of law in their country.  We are proud to share with Pakistan a common legal heritage and shared history.” He adds, “The Law Society has taken an active interest in the lawyers’ movement of Pakistan and their campaign to reinstate the deposed judges and bring attention to the plight of the “disappeared”.

The Law Society Council yesterday passed a resolution pledging support to Pakistani lawyers: "… We stand in solidarity with the lawyers’ movement of Pakistan in calling for a restoration of the judiciary as essential to the renewal of the rule of law in Pakistan."

There was widespread international concern and condemnation of events following the declaration of the state of emergency in November 2007.  The state of emergency has since been lifted and a new government has been elected, but many of the judges have not been allowed to return to work.

Law Society President Paul Marsh said, “In a time of instability, when the day to day security and safety of the population is increasingly under attack, it is all too easy for governments to regard what lawyers and judges stand for as a luxury they cannot afford. But undermining their independence and preventing them from delivering justice can only weaken the defence of a democratic society governed by the rule of law.”

ends

Since November 2007 the Law Society has launched an online petition to represent the views of solicitors in England and Wales and lawyers around the world on the breakdown of the rule of law in Pakistan; presented the online petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street to condem the suspension of the rule of law in Pakistan; written to the Rt Hon Donald C McKinnon, urging the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to take strong action; written to officials in Pakistan, and to the UK foreign secretary, expressing the concerns of the solicitors’ profession; written to Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan as well as regional bars expressing support; and repeated the public declaration of support for lawyers and judges in Pakistan on the occasion of the “long march” in June 2008 and again in March 2009.
 
For interview requests and more information please contact the Law Society Press Office on 0207 320 5902.

Latest news