Amjad Malik`s Personal Page

Association of Pakistani Lawyers a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, & Judges in UK expressed their willingness to work with Punjab Bar Council and fellow lawyers fraternity in Pakistan for rule of law and justice in the country.
 
Delegation(s) of PBC headed by Arif Alvi in place of vice chairman Mr. Sindhu 2008 of PBC along with elected members Punjab Bar Council including, Hassan Raza Pasha, Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi, Mr. Manzoor Qadir, Mohd. Akram Khaksar, Iqbal Mohal,Mohd. Zaman Mangat  and Secretary Bar Akbar Bhatti exchanged views and signed a declaration on 16 August 2007 at APL Chambers in Rochdale where Mohd Rafiq Chair of APL 2008 led a team of APL consisting of Amjad Malik Vice Chair, Ilyas Gondal Secretary, Kashif Rana  (Assistant Secretary & Co-Ordinator of  APL respectively) , Solicitor(s) Nadeem Malik of Malik Laws, Azeem Malik of Greanheads Solicitors, Saleem Shah of Shah Solicitors, Kabir Ahmed of Kabir Law Associates, Maqbool Malik of Malik laws, Javed Akbar advocate of Malik Laws, participated. Dr Malik chairman of DM Digital made special attendance due to his particular interest in law and few students attended as observers.
 
Chair ‘Association of Pakistani Lawyers’ along with his delegation and delegation on behalf of ‘Punjab Bar Council’ held their meeting on Saturday 16 August 2006 at 12.00 pm at: APL Chambers at 149 Drake Street, Rochdale, OL11 1EF, United Kingdom. This was series of seminars conducted by APL in the wake of lawyers struggle for independence of judiciary and this was second delegation from PBC in second consecutive year.  APL presented a certificate to appreciate PBC efforts during Chief Justice’s struggle.
 Both delegations agreed on the following points and signed a memorandum:
 
1)     “Law & lawyer Community: APL and PBC agreed to continue their work as per their agreement on 26 August 2006 where in Chair APL and Vice Chair of PBC agreed to work for the rule of law, justice and for the cause of lawyers benefit and agreed to the following objectives in their last meeting in 2006:
·         to continue these bilateral visits for mutual co-operation and pooling of knowledge amongst the legal fraternity with Pakistani connection or origin and for their welfare and promotion in their legal careers or professions in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Law Society of England and Wales and Pakistan Bar Council and relevant national legislation. Where ever necessary, amendments will be brought to advance the case of lawyers for the cause and betterment of common man.
·         to interact with the judicial, administrative and legal professional bodies and individuals in England (UK) and Pakistan, in the areas of law, constitutional matters, legal and professional affairs and other related issues to lawyers and common man.
·         to work in promoting and upholding the dignity, nobility and high status of the legal profession and to assist the lawyer as well as mainstream community in solving their problems and any conflict and differences.
·         to help the Pakistani community in becoming aware of their legal rights and their obligations in abiding with the laws of the land whether in Pakistan or United Kingdom and or abroad, and in becoming good citizens with high morals.
·         to promote interaction and co-operation with other individuals, associations & institutions, Governments, and professional bodies and to facilitate an environment in which the above aims and objectives can be achieved democratically and fairly.
 
2)     Pakistan: APL and PBC agreed to speed up their efforts to bring about a positive change for the betterment in Pakistan’s political situation and jointly wish to work towards ridding the nation from military rule once for all and agree to work together in order to pave way  for a parliamentary form of democratic structure in line with 73 Constitution with rule of law and justice as its salient features.
 
3)     Chief Justice & his colleagues: APL and PBC admired the courage of Chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhary and his colleagues who unprecedentedly refuse to take oath under PCO announced by the military dictator General Pervez Musharraf on 3rd November 2007 and pledged to continue on the line of their sacrifices in order to promote the idea of independent judiciary in Pakistan. APL & PBC congratulated each other societies respectively and all the legal fraternity for their show of courage, unity and strength to work for the cause of ‘independence of judiciary’ and to safeguard the respect for the office of the Honourable Chief Justice utilising all possible mechanism available to seek justice as well as restoring the respect and dignity of the profession which it truly deserves. All the world is considering the struggle of lawyers, media and civil society with admiration for which all the lawyer community deserves great admiration.  APL and PBC demanded the ruling coalition to restore the pre 3rd November judiciary with honour as mandated on 18th February 2008 and pledged in the ‘Bhurban Declaration’ on 9 March 2008.
 
4)     President’s future: APL and PBC welcomed  the decision of ruling coalition to demand the President General Pervez Musharraf through the elected forums to seek confidence of the Parliament, failing which President has to make a decision either to resign or to face impeachment. APL and PBC  agreed that treason trial must follow if the matter goes to the impeachment if to avoid future martial laws. However, both societies emphasized that Presidential resignation could avoid further confrontation of political forces with establishment of which Pakistan cannot afford as a state in the current prevailing and geo political situation and if ‘Pakistan is truly First to the retired General both societies demanded his resignation and urged all political forces to join hands together to see off the dying dictatorial regime if they wish to see the light of democracy ever in the country. APL and PBC urged lawyer movement that independent judiciary is a dream without sovereign and military free Parliament and unless dictatorial regime is seen off, the cloud of emergency, sacking of free minded judges, introduction of PCO and dismissal of Parliament will be hanging on the heads of right thinking people in future too. As too much water has passed under the bridge since Long March, its time to remain united and patiently see the course of action Parliamentarians adopt to restore rule of law, constitutionalism and free judiciary and remain vigilant as the parliament needs to be guarded if desired results are to be achieved in near future and at all times.
 
5)     APL and PBC prayed that Lawyers, media and Civil society’s contribution is fruitful to bring Pakistan out of the series of crisis to save the federation and country from imminent dangers and both jointly agree to continue their future collaboration and to hold future meetings, seminars in order to foster relations between lawyers of both societies. Both Societies agreed that whilst formulating the future delegation elected members of PBC are given due preference as it has worked successfully on this occasion.”
 
APL invited Chief Justice & his colleagues who refused to take oath under PCO and all elected members of Bars of Pakistan to visit Manchester on the invitation of APL during CJ’s visit to Europe in November. Mr. Manzoor Qadir President of Lahore District Bar Association has been given the task to communicate the invitation of APL to Chief justice.   
 
 
Signed:  xxxx
 
Amjad Malik, MA, LLM
Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court of England and Wales
Vice Chair Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
00 44 1706 346 011 & email at: APLRochdale@aol.com
Mobile: 00 44 7770983308
 
Office Address
149 DRAKE STREET
ROCHDALE
OL11 1EF

TEL: 00 44 1706 346 111
FAX: 00 44 1706 346012
MOBILE: 00 44 7770 983308
EMAIL: AMSolicitors@aol.com
 
16 August 2008