As you may know, on Saturday, November 3rd, during the Association’s House of Delegates meeting, word began to spread about the terrible events occurring in Pakistan. The House immediately approved a resolution condemning the actions of the Musharaff government against the Supreme Court, lawyers and the bar.
On November 13th, New York lawyers, 700 strong, gathered in New York City to protest this ongoing miscarriage of justice. We stood with a single voice to condemn the removal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the arrest of many local bar leaders and attacks on the Pakistani legal community at large. We rose in support of our brothers and sisters of the bar across the globe and urged the world wide legal community to join us in speaking out for the restoration of the rule of law in Pakistan.
While the crisis in Pakistan continues, it is encouraging to note that our efforts from this side of the globe are appreciated. This letter, written by Pakistani lawyer Bilal Hasan Minto and published by the New York Law Journal, is clear proof that the support we demonstrate in New York has positive effects in places like Islamabad and Lahore.
I hope you will join me in continuing our support for our colleagues in Pakistan because that is what New York lawyers do. We speak out against injustice, anywhere injustice exists. As always, I am anxious to know your thoughts about this ongoing crisis.