VZCZCXRO9665
RR RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHLH #0118/01 1671143
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 161143Z JUN 09
FM AMCONSUL LAHORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4067
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4785
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2084
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 1765
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0809
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0432
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 5218

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAHORE 000118 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: PUNJAB LAWYERS FIGHT FOR AND AMONG THEMSELVES AFTER LONG 
MARCH 
 
REF: (A) 08 ISLAMABAD 3902; (B) ISLAMABAD 1099 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Lawyers from Punjab have continued the fight 
for lawyers' rights, but have focused their efforts on improving 
their own status and ensuring job security.  Punjab attorneys 
have demanded pay raises, housing from the provincial government 
and a resolution that requires companies to retain legal 
representation.  But the controversial appointment of a new 
president has dissolved the Lahore High Court Bar Association 
(LHCBA) into political bickering, further diminishing their 
political influence.  End Summary. 
 
- - - 
Resolutions to Secure Position of Lawyers 
- - - 
 
¶2. (SBU) In the wake of the March 15 lawyers long march, 
Punjab's attorneys have continued to fight for lawyers' rights, 
though not necessarily in the streets.  Muqtedir Aktar Shabir, 
Secretary of Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), told 
poloffs on April 13 that the LHCBA will push for the 
implementation of the Legal Advisor Act of 1974 that requires 
all public and private companies registered with the government 
to retain at least one legal representative.  Most companies do 
not retain lawyers and those that do retain the same lawyers, he 
explained.  The Act, he stated, also prohibits a lawyer from 
advising more than three companies, which allows more employment 
opportunities for lawyers.  Muzamil Aktar Shabir, former 
Secretary of LHCBA, added that LHCBA will promote a resolution 
that allows only lawyers to prepare documents, not the "poorly 
trained draftsmen" who currently act as paralegals.  "Draftsmen 
are not lawyers," he said, "and do not know how to prepare these 
documents." 
 
¶3. (SBU) In a May 21 follow-up, Shabir told poloff that he had 
filed a petition before the Supreme Court of Pakistan for the 
implementation of the Act and he hoped that "the Supreme Court 
would pass an appropriate order" to protect the rights of 
lawyers. 
 
- - - 
Lawyers Demand Housing 
- - - 
 
¶4.  (SBU) LHCBA will also continue to request more perks for 
attorneys who face low pay, Muqtedir Aktar Shabir admitted to 
poloffs.  Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Deputy Speaker of Punjab 
Assembly, told poloffs on March 27 that the Punjab government 
began construction of a judicial colony, providing housing and 
transportation to and from the court for the judges in Lahore. 
He expected the province to build a similar facility for 
attorneys.  Shabir, Secretary of LHCBA, echoed that "we are 
trying to convince the Punjab and Federal Governments to address 
this demand but so far no progress has been made." 
 
- - - 
Pay Raises for Judges and Lawyers 
- - - 
 
¶5. (SBU)  In June 2008, the Punjab Government increased 
three-fold the basic salary of judges of the lower judiciary, 
recounted Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan.  The salaries of district 
and session judges increased to Rs 120,000 (1,500 dollars) a 
month; senior civil judges to Rs 48,000 (600 dollars); and civil 
judges to Rs 32,000 (400 dollars).  This pay raise allowed the 
government to recruit better judges and eliminate bribery, 
explained Rana Asad Ullah Khan, former Secretary LHCBA.  Asad 
Ullah Khan predicted that additional pay raises and 
implementation of the housing scheme would occur under Chief 
Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Pay raises are a possibility for 
lawyers, said Ayesha Javed, Pakistan Muslim League, but would 
only "affect lawyers holding public office as public 
prosecutors" and is contingent upon upcoming provincial budget 
allocations. 
 
- - - 
Infighting at Bar Association 
- - - 
 
¶6.  (SBU) An internal dispute in LHCBA erupted over the 
accession of Munawar Iqbal Gondal, who became President of 
Lahore High Court Bar Association on April 14 after LHCBA 
president Mahmood Shahid Siddiqui moved to the Supreme Court. 
Former presidents of the Bar Association and over 300 members 
filed a petition demanding fresh elections but the Lahore High 
Court dismissed the call for the removal of Gondal as president 
on May 26.  A meeting held on June 5 to resolve the issue ended 
in a physical brawl as Gondal's opponents attacked him and 
 
LAHORE 00000118  002 OF 002 
 
 
physically removed him from the building.  According to press, 
the following day, 715 of the 8,440 voting members elected 
Nasira Iqbal as the new president.  Gondal has challenged the 
election before the Punjab Bar Council, a supervisory body that 
oversees bar associations in the province.  [Note: Opponents 
question Gondal's legitimacy because he supported judges who 
took oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order. End Note.] 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment: In the wake of the lawyers march, lawyers were 
revered for their fight for an independent judiciary and 
reinstatement of the Chief Justice.  Exploiting the success of 
the long march for their benefit, the lawyers have harnessed 
their power for personal gain, seeking resolutions to protect 
their role as lawyers and a provincial housing scheme for 
lawyers.  At a time when they could have used their collective 
power to challenge the Nizam-e-Adl regulation and work toward 
effective judicial practices, they concentrated instead on their 
narrow personal interests and LHCBA political games. 
HUNT