Lawyers in a northwestern Pakistani region have gone on strike to protest against what they called the "insulting attitude" of the country's military and the government toward the judiciary.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council called for a boycott of all legal proceedings on December 19 in a show of respect for the judiciary, which it said had been unlawfully criticized for the death sentence handed to former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf on treason charges for suspending the country's constitution in 2007.
A special court on December 17 announced the conviction and sentencing of the 76-year-old ex-strongman, who is now living in exile in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
In a statement, Pakistan's army took issue with what it called the "denial of the fundamental right to self-defense" and "concluding the case in haste."
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government also objected to the court ruling, claiming that the right to a “fair trial” was not provided to the defendant.
In a video statement issued from his hospital bed, Musharraf, who has dismissed the case against him as "baseless," said he would decide his future course of action after consulting his legal team.
Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan between 1999 and 2008, is the first military ruler to stand trial in Pakistan for overruling the constitution.
Pakistani Lawyers On Strike Over Government, Army Objections To Musharraf Sentencing
![Khyber Pashtunkhwa lawyers launch a picket in protest at statements by the Pakistani Army and government, criticizing a death sentence handed down to a former President Pervez Musharraf.](https://gdb.rferl.org/8adb1c41-7f0a-465c-bde1-0357d61c12b9_w250_r1_s.png)
Related
Editor's Picks
Subscribe
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
Taliban Intensifies Crackdown On Dissent In Afghanistan
2Afghan Women Head To Olympics On Equal Footing
3Afghan Talks Kick Off In Doha Amid Anger Over Taliban’s Exclusion Of Women
4The Push To Recognize 'Gender Apartheid' As A Crime
540 Dead, Hundreds Injured After Heavy Rain, Storms In Eastern Afghanistan
6Fearful Of Losing Their Livelihoods, Pakistanis Oppose Latest Military Operation
7New Extremist Groups -- At Least In Name -- Enter Pakistan's Militant Scene
8Interview: Pakistani Islamist Leader Opposes Military Operation To Root Out Militants
9'Widespread Fear': Spate Of Killings In Pakistan's Restive Northwest Targets Journalists
10Homes Of Afghan Migrants Reportedly Attacked After Killing Of Iranian
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.