As many as 84 representatives of different bar councils and associations spoke on the occasion, out of which 24 demanded the immediate resignation of the prime minister while 48 suggested that lawyers should wait for the JIT report while keeping an eye on the situation as this demand was premature and could harm the democratic system.
The remaining 12 speakers abstained from advancing any opinion saying they would support whatever the Pakistan Bar Council decided.
The legal fraternity present on the occasion rejected the demand that the premier Nawaz Sharif should step down in a bid to pave way for transparent investigation.
The convention decided that the PBC, the supervisory body of lawyers, would constitute a committee to watch the proceedings of the Supreme Court’s implementation bench.
Interestingly, some of the lawyers even alleged that the judiciary handed down selective justice when it came to the “royal family of Lahore” in a veiled reference to Sharif family while those who opposed it were of the view that the lawyers should not monopolize the Panama Papers judgement and if they were really aggrieved of its outcome, they should file a review petition.
The declaration adopted on the occasion hailed the Panama Papers judgement and said that despite criticism, support from a different section was a step forward for a legal course to eliminate corruption and corrupt practices.
“We believe that the process of accountability should be across-the-board for all the institutions, including political parties,” it said. “This, we believe, also blocks the extra-constitutional interference which we experienced in the past.”
Before the declaration to wait for JIT report was adopted, vice chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Ahsan Bhoon offered to resign as he was of the view that the premier should resign contrary to the majority decision.
“I want to unite the bar instead of dividing it,” Mr Bhoon said, adding that he was morally bound to step down but clarifying at the same time that the PBC was not holding brief for any political party.
But the legal bevy sharing the opinion with Bhoom forced the vice chairman to change his decision saying they had confidence in his leadership.
It bears mentioning that the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) had demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif days after Panama verdict.
Pakistani currency continues to gain against US Dollar and other currencies on April 18, 2024. US dollar was being quoted at 277.2 for buying and 280.3 for selling.
Euro comes down to 293 for buying and 296 for selling while British Pound stands at 342.25 for buying, and 345.65 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED was at 75.25 and Saudi Riyal's new rates was at 73.30.
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
---|---|---|---|
US Dollar | USD | 277.2 | 280.3 |
Euro | EUR | 293 | 296 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 342.25 | 345.65 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 75.25 | 75.95 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 73.3 | 74.05 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 181 | 182.8 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 739.63 | 747.63 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 201 | 203 |
China Yuan | CNY | 38.45 | 38.85 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 40.45 | 40.85 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 35.57 | 35.92 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.32 | 3.43 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.86 | 1.94 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 902.26 | 912.91 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 58.24 | 59.52 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 164.75 | 169.63 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 25.42 | 25.68 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 722.1 | 730.1 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 76.37 | 77.05 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 206 | 208 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 25.72 | 26.02 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 307.11 | 309.61 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 7.56 | 7.76 |
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