ISLAMABAD: The legal fraternity of the country on Friday resolved not to seek resignation from Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif in the wake of Panamagate case. An All Pakistan Lawyers Representatives Conference held at Islamabad believed that the demand from the PM to tender his resignation may harm the functioning of the democratic system in the country. The conference was organised by Pakistan Bar Council, which is the apex regulatory body of the legal fraternity. More than 200 representatives including presidents, general secretaries and other office bearers from high court bars and district bars attended the conference. However, no representative from the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) was present on the occasion. The conference was presided over by Hafeez ur Rehman Chaudhry, chairman executive committee, and Muhammad Ahsen Bhoon, vice chairman of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC).
According to Bhoon, a total of 84 representatives expressed their views and suggestions during the conference. Out of 84, 24 representatives argued in favour of seeking resignation, 12 opted to go with the majority while 48 representatives opined not to seek resignation until investigation by joint investigation team (JIT) into the Panama case is complete. A section of the participants also opined that the PM should step down to join JIT proceedings on moral grounds. However, majority believed that any call for resignation and launch of agitation is premature at this stage as it may harm the democratic system. It was resolved that a committee will be constituted by the PBC to oversee proceedings of the implementation bench of the Supreme Court. The legal fraternity said that corruption and nepotism was rampant throughout the country and therefore across-the-board accountability had become inevitable. They further resolved that the Panamagate judgment, despite criticism from some sections, was a step forward towards a legal course to eliminate corruption.
