Jammu lawyers Saturday staged a silent protest against the Jammu Bar Association’s decision to suspend two prominent lawyers, who had demanded “strengthening and retaining of Article 35-A”.
Led by senior advocate and former vice president of JammuBar, Jameel Kazmi, the protesting lawyers assembled outside the Jammu andKashmir High Court Complex, here.
Holding placards against the decision of suspending twoeminent lawyers, including senior advocate and former Bar president AV Guptaand former senior AAG S C Gupta, the lawyers demanded immediate revocation ofthe suspension order.
Before staging the protest, the members of the Bar assembledin Justice Vinod Gupta Bar Hall, here at the High Court Complex and held ameeting. They expressed solidarity with the suspended members of the Bar.
The advocates, during the meeting, unanimously decided togive the Jammu Bar three days to revoke the suspension. They threatened tolaunch a signature campaign, involving lawyers across Jammu province, to ensurerevocation of the suspension order.
Advocate H C Jalmeria, while speaking on the occasion,cautioned all the Bar members to not indulge in politicizing the Bar, whileAdvocates Jalmeria and Ashok Basotra stated that the two lawyers were suspendedfor their views on a constitutional matter and the voice of the members can’tbe “gagged”.
Advocate J A Kazmi said that the Jammu Bar belongs toeveryone and no particular political ideology can be allowed to flourish in it.
Advocates Anil John, Zahida Parveen, Shabnam Mir, FoziaShamim, Rouf Lone, Zahid Sarfaraz Malik, Masood Chowdhary and Zulkernain Sheikhalso spoke on the occasion.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed conducted the proceedings ofthe meeting.