The Insaf Lawyers Forum has announced its separation from the Hamid Khan group during a
press conference at the Lahore High Court Bar. ILF Chief Organizer Intizar Hussain Panjutha
said the forum had previously supported the Lawyers Action Committee movement. He said the
committee had announced plans to start a lawyers’ movement after the summer holidays.
Panjutha called on senior lawyer Ali Ahmed Kurd to present a clear plan for the proposed
movement. He said the ILF would consult its members and prepare its own strategy if no plan
was presented. Panjutha also questioned the Lahore High Court Bar leadership over statements
about starting a movement against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He raised questions
about a government cheque received by the bar president and asked for an explanation.
Panjutha said the ILF currently would not stand with the Hamid Khan group. His comments
come after earlier disputes between lawyer groups over the Lahore High Court Bar elections.
Those election disputes involved competing claims and later led to an agreement for a forensic
audit of the voting system.

During the press conference, Panjutha also discussed several political and judicial issues facing
Pakistan. He criticized recent constitutional developments and expressed concerns about public
confidence in the Supreme Court. He referred to the 27th Constitutional Amendment and
discussed the relationship between the constitutional court and Supreme Court. Panjutha also
spoke about statements attributed to Bushra Bibi concerning conditions inside her detention
cell. He raised concerns about Yasmin Rashid and alleged that lawyers had faced raids and
arrests. These statements represent Panjutha’s views and should be understood as claims
made during the press conference. He announced that the Insaf Lawyers Forum would hold a
protest on October 5. Panjutha said lawyers’ movements had historically been led by bar
associations and called for a clear future strategy. He also said the ILF would take to the streets
if an emergency were imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At the same time, he said current
conditions in KP did not justify such a measure. The statements highlight continuing debate
among lawyers about judicial matters, constitutional changes and political issues.

Source: Statements made by Intizar Hussain Panjutha during his press conference at the
Lahore High Court Bar. Background information was also checked against reporting on Lahore
High Court Bar developments.

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