Karachi: A group of lawyers led by the vice-president of the High Court Bar Association opposed the invitation of PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz to address the bar during her scheduled visit to Garhi Khuda Buksh Bhutto on December 27. And appeals to the Registrar of the Sindh High Court to cancel the invitation ‘to avoid complications’
According to the report, during a press conference at the local press club, HCBA Vice President Mazhar Ali Mangan and Senior Advocate Qadir Bakhsh Bhatti said that the General Secretary of the Bar, Ashfaq Abro, sent invitations to the General Body without taking them into confidence.
He said that the invitation of Maryam Nawaz to address the bar was against the rules and regulations so it should be withdrawn or canceled.
He rejected the Secretary-General’s claim that the invitation had the signatures of 400 lawyers, saying that many of the signatories were law students who are not even registered as members of the bar.
Showing a copy of the petition sent to the President of the Bar signed by the Vice President, Joint Secretary, Library Secretary, and members of the Managing Committee, he said that the message had been conveyed to the President that Maryam Nawaz was invited to address the bar. The sent-letter was against the law and should be withdrawn.
Advocate Qadir Bakhsh Bhatti in a letter dated December 23 to the Registrar of the Sindh High Court said that the signatures on the invitation had been ‘arranged’ and the matter had not been taken up with the bar members.
The General Secretary of the Bar Association had invited Maryam Nawaz in a letter on December 18 to address the bar as per Maryam’s convenience as she is likely to visit Garhi Khuda Buksh Bhutto on December 27 to attend the anniversary of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto.
Nisar Ahmed G. Abro, a member of the bar, had requested it.
General Secretary Ashfaq Abro said that he issued the invitation when the president of the bar sent a request to Nisar Abro.
He said that everything was done in accordance with the rules of the association and it was signed by 400 lawyers.
Once Maryam Nawaz accepts the invitation, the lawyer who transferred the application will inform the association, and only then will arrangements be made for her address.
“However, we have not received any response yet,” he added.