Federal Constitutional Court Rules Lawyers’ Strike Calls Illegal
The Federal Constitutional Court in Islamabad has declared strike calls issued by bar associations and councils unlawful, stating they violate citizens’ right to access justice.
Justice Aamer Farooq’s detailed judgment explained that strikes by lawyers impede the justice system and deny litigants legal representation.
The court noted significant pressure on Pakistan’s judicial system due to a backlog of cases, with many disputes taking years for resolution. Strikes further delay proceedings, the court stated.
Even if strike purposes are legitimate, they cannot justify denying citizens their constitutional right to access justice in any form. The court upheld a previous decision by the Peshawar High Court that restored a lawyer’s license after it was suspended for representing an accused individual in a murder case.