The Vanishing
Grace
By Col. Riaz Jafri
(Retd)
Westridge, Rawalpindi
The way the legal fraternity is belittling the
image of the venerated black coat and black tie
leaves much to be desired. It does not behove
them the least to come on the roads in a disorderly
manner and dance, clap and jump hollering fist
wielding slogans.
It certainly does not present a respectable spectacle
each time they receive the CJ either coming out
of the SC or visiting them at a Bar Council. They
throng around him pushing and pulling each other
in a most undisciplined manner and in the process
subject him unwittingly to the disrespect reminiscent
of the police on the day of his insisting to walk
to the SC.
Where has gone the grace synonymous with the profession
of the learned barristers and attorneys who were
supposed to be the embodiment of correctitude,
propriety, manners, etiquette, court room decorum
and oration? Protest they can if they must, but
with dignity and grace. In a befitting and awe
inspiring orderly manner. It will be more effective
and reflective of their intellectual weight. They
have done well in not allowing the politicians
to enter their ranks and hi-jack the potent platform
from them. However, they need not run helter-skelter
and mob like also on the roads to demonstrate
their unity with the CJP and for the independence
of the judiciary. They can do it while still attending
the courts by wearing black bands and/or appropriate
badges. Holding their protest meetings during
the off court hours and days. Such a sense of
responsibility and duty toward their clients will
earn them further respect from those who now walk
for miles only to be disappointed to find the
courts not functioning because of the attorneys
protesting on the roads. Needless to say, the
loss of even a day’s hearing could cause
immeasurable loss to some innocent being. The
crucial bail delayed by a day could deprive a
son of seeing the face of his dying mother. The
nation expects the legal fraternity to show more
maturity and lead them through the crisis the
way the founding fathers – mostly lawyers
– did gracefully.
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