The SCBA President Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon in a statement said that unjustified and highly condemnable social media propaganda has been unleashed against Chief Justice IHC Athar Minallah for his observations made during the hearing of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022.
He said that this is totally unacceptable as unknown elements with complicity and connivance of governing machinery have resorted to pass derogatory and contemptuous remarks/statements against the IHC Chief Justice. “The substance of such social media campaign/propaganda proves to be a desperate effort to malign and slander the dignity of the judiciary,” he added.
Bhoon said that SCBA fully endorses the observations made by the Chief Justice Islamabad High Court in PECA Ordinance hearings, adding the Bar not only reiterates its full support to the IHC Chief Justice and the judiciary but also repeats its longstanding stance that introduction of such “draconian law” is an attempt to cut throat of political opponents and to silence those who believe in freedom of speech, opinion, and expression.
He said, “Let no one be mistaken that the legal fraternity will not allow anyone to sabotage the dignity and repute of our institutions, especially judiciary, may come what.” He also said that in order to stop such derogatory content, SCBA calls upon the relevant law enforcement agencies and their cyber departments to take stern action against the culprits so as to stop this disparaging campaign/propaganda against the Chief Justice Islamabad High Court and those found involved in such contemptuous campaigns must be taken to task, at earliest.