Islamabad: Pakistan Bar Council observes black day

Islamabad, Jan 29: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) is observing black day across the country on Thursday to protest against the 21st constitutional amendment establishing the military courts, a media report said.

The PBC, at its meeting held in Islamabad on Wednesday, condemned the amendments in the constitution and the Army Act for establishing the military courts, Geo TV reported.

Bar association members wore black arm bands while appearing before courts as a mark of protest.

Azim Nazir Tarar, newly-elected vice-chairman of the council, addressing a press conference at the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Wednesday, said laws already existed in the country for eliminating terrorism from the country and hence the new legislations should be avoided.

Tarar said the political parties, by supporting the 21st Amendment for establishing military courts in the presence of a democratic government, had disappointed the nation.

He added that the jails were filled with innocent due to the glitches in the system, while the real criminals were moving freely. He noted that there was a need to revamp the justice system.

IANS