LAWASIA Statements & Resolutions: 2007

LAWASIA Statement Pakistan - Issued 10 November 2007

The LAWASIA Council strongly condemns the fact that one of its Council members, Mr Justice (Rtd) Rasheed Razvi, has been detained in Karachi under a three-month detention order. These actions are the immediate result of the stand that has been taken by the legal profession in Pakistan against threats to democracy, the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law more...

LAWASIA has received a note that Mr Justice (Rtd) Rasheed Razvi was released in late November. Following his release he was elected president of the Sindh High Court Bar Association.

LAWASIA Statement on rule of law crisis in Pakistan - Issued 7 November 2007

LAWASIA, the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific, expresses its deep alarm at developments in Pakistan that have seen the Chief of Army Staff, President General Musharraf, abrogate the Pakistan Constitution in declaring a state of emergency.

LAWASIA notes its particular concern that this action has led to a fierce and highly repugnant attack on Pakistan’s judges and the independence of the judiciary. In addition, the violent measures taken to suppress Pakistan’s lawyers as they properly protest this threat to the rule of law in their country are a matter of extreme concern to the international legal community

Please click here to download the full statement

Other Statements – Pakistan Crisis

• Law Council of Australia
• The Law Society of Singapore
• Malaysian Bar
• Canadian Bar Association
  
• Commonwealth Lawyers Association
• International Bar Association
• International Commission of Jurists
• Law Society of England and Wales

LAWASIA Statement on recent events in Myanmar - Issued 3 October 2007

LAWASIA expresses its deepest concern for developments in Myanmar that have seen military forces react with unacceptable violence to protest within the country, resulting in death, injury, arrest and repression amongst the civilian population

Statement issued 3 October 2007

Letter concerning dismissal of Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice - Issued 16 March 2007

Pakistan's top judge was suspended in early March amid controversial circumstances drawing remonstration from local and international legal communities. Lawyers across Pakistan protested and boycotted courts following the removal of the Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry after unclear allegations of misuse of office. Many lawyers and human rights groups claim that Chaudhry was targeted at a result of his recent interest in human rights cases and abuse of power within the state of Pakistan.

LAWASIA voiced its concern in a letter to General Pervez Musharraf on March 16 2007.