ZW News HD
Related Articles
Claims protests break basic rights and cause more delays
BY Mahnoor | 03-06-2026
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that strikes by lawyers are illegal. The court stated that these strikes stop people from getting legal help, which violates their right to justice and puts more pressure on the already busy court system.
In a 20-page decision, Justice Aamer Farooq of the Federal Constitutional Court supported a previous ruling that allowed two lawyers to continue working.
The court stated that lawyer strikes prevent people from getting legal help and are never acceptable, no matter the reason. Justice Farooq noted that while strikes by legal groups are common in this region, they are illegal because they violate a person’s right to see a lawyer and seek justice.
The court noted that when lawyers go on strike, they are forbidden from attending court. This means that on those days, a person involved in a lawsuit loses their right to have a lawyer represent them, and their case is delayed without any progress.
Based on the facts, this case started after a young lawyer was murdered, and a police officer was accused of being involved.
A formal police report was filed, and people protested to demand justice for the officer. The officer later surrendered to the court and was arrested. He then hired lawyer Shabbir Hussain Gigyani to defend him.
Because of these events, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council decided that no lawyer is allowed to defend the accused officer.
At the same time, lawyer Ali Azim Afridi faced punishment when the Bar Council’s committee suspended his license during an emergency meeting on October 8, 2025.
He was suspended after the Peshawar Bar Council said he broke the rules by appearing in court during a strike.
The lawyers challenged this decision in the Peshawar High Court, which ruled in their favor.
Being prevented from getting a fair legal process
A group of judges led by Justice Aamer Farooq ruled that when lawyers go on strike, it prevents people from getting justice.
Our legal system is already overwhelmed with too many cases, and people must wait years for their trials to end. Because of this, lawyer strikes only make things harder for those seeking legal help.
The court also noted: “No matter how good the reason for the lawyers’ strike is, it is not the right way to show their concerns. This is because the strike prevents people from getting the legal help or justice they need.”
Preventing anyone from getting justice is against the Constitution, whether it happens because courts won’t hold hearings or because legal offices are closed.
The FCC ruled that it is completely unacceptable to stop lawyers from representing clients or appearing in court.
