LAHORE: Newly-elected president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jehangir has said that she is neither afraid of judges, generals or rulers nor will she take dictation from anyone.
“I have been an independent woman throughout my life. I am not scared of the army, establishment, judges, prime minister or president. The relations with all these institutions or persons will be established on the basis of equality. They will be respected if they will respect us,” she said while talking to the media on the Lahore High Court premises here on Thursday.
Dispelling the impression that she was against the judiciary, Ms Asma said she had decades old relations with the judiciary and the propaganda in this regard should be shunned. She said she believed in independence of the judiciary and she had paid a price for the cause in the past when she along with thousands of people was thrown in jail. She said she had been knocking the door of the judiciary even when it was not independent. She said what she and other people had done for cause of independent judiciary should not be reckoned as “sacrifice” rather they were indebted to their country which they had tried to pay back to its people. She pointed out that they were gone to jail by choice and were ready to go again for judiciary or other people-related issues.
Asma Jehangir said a vilification campaign was launched against her and in such circumstance her victory was a great success. She said lawyers could differentiate between right and wrong. She said she strongly believed in the freedom of the press because it ensured protection of people’s rights.
A large number of Asma’s supporters who had gathered there were chanting slogans in her favour. Sweets were also distributed among the lawyers. Agencies add: Asma Jehangir said that an independent bar was vital to the independent judiciary, adding that lawyers had elected an independent and enlightened bar in the election.
“We are neither with the government nor with the judiciary rather, we will play our role in an independent capacity,” she said and vowed to play her role for the provision of justice to thousands of people who were imprisoned and waiting for justice. She said she was thankful that every political leader had congratulated her victory, and said that she was quite.
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