LHCBA Gives PM Ultimatum To Resign
The Lahore High Court Bar Association recently gave Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif an ultimatum to resign within a week, or face backlash from the lawyers. The discontentment amongst the lawyers of the LHCBA arose after the Supreme Court gave its decision regarding the Panama Papers case. Those involved vowed to carry out a lawyers movement bigger than that of 2007 post the dismissal of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Most prominent individuals in delivering the collective demand for the PM’s resignation were LHCBA President Zulfiqar Chaudhry, Vice-President Rashid Lodhi, Secretary Amir Saeed Rana and Finance Secretary Zaheer Butt. Chaudhry stressed on the fact that if the premier does not give up his seat within a week then the government will have to face a movement bigger than that carried out in 2007 on behalf of deposed judges.
“The [Panama Papers case] decision is unanimous,” remarked Chaudhry. “Throughout the world, public office holders implicated in the Panama [Papers] scandal have relinquished their posts, but the Prime Minister is adamant to stay in power,” he added defending the bar’s proposition. “How can officers under the PM conduct a fair investigation into the PM’s alleged corruption?” he concluded.
Vice President of the Bar Association, Rashid Lodhi supported the demand by stating that, “Two of the five judges have made it clear that the PM is not ‘sadiq’ and ‘ameen’,” and adding that the Prime Minister should have the courage to resign, instead of letting his own appointees investigate him for alleged corruption.
The aforementioned discussion took place at a press conference post the Panama decision.
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