Lawyers likely to launch ‘restoration of Constitution’ Movement

Eminent lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan expressed severe concerns over the non-implementation of judicial orders on Monday, hinting at the launch of a movement aimed at achieving the full restoration of the Constitution in the country.

In a joint press conference with Sardar Latif Khosa, Ahsan decried the current state of affairs, stating that judicial orders were not being obeyed as they should be. He emphasized their intention to devise a future strategy after consultation with fellow lawyer leaders.

Last month, President Arif Alvi denied signing the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023, triggering a massive controversy in the country. He claimed that his staff ‘undermined’ his orders, leaving the legal status of these amendments in limbo.

Initially, it was reported that the president had signed the bills after approval from the National Assembly and the Senate, effectively making them law. However, after the president’s surprising revelation, the current legal status of these amendments remains unclear, causing significant debate and uncertainty.

Amidst growing concerns, legal experts led by Aitzaz Ahsan and Sardar Latif Khosa have initiated a ‘lawyer movement,’ with aims to push for swift elections, uphold the rule of law, and address economic instability in Pakistan.

Khosa emphasized that the current situation was worse than a dictatorship and amounted to an undeclared martial law. The lawyers’ movement seeks to rally support from various political parties and aims to restore the rule of law, potentially allowing Pakistan to free itself from the influence of international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF).