Lawyers’ deadline

THE legal fraternity, already having trained its guns on the ruling coalition, has warned the government to either reinstate the deposed judges by August 14 or face a resumption of their movement, boycott of court proceedings, holding of long marches, staging of sit-ins and the likelihood of civil disobedience. The deadline was set by the All Pakistan Lawyers Convention held in Lahore on Saturday, which rejected outright the proposed constitutional package. Representatives of various bar councils and associations met at a time when the backstage players were trying to weaken the lawyers’ movement by driving a wedge in the legal community. The ruling coalition would be well advised to resolve the judges issue without wasting any more time since it is already being seen as reneging on its commitment to revive the rule of law in the country. Any further delay in fulfilling the promise will not only adversely affect the votebanks of the two mainstream parties, but also make it difficult for them to run the affairs of the state amidst deepening crises.