By Kashif-ul-Huda and Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: The Lucknow Bar Association (LBA) has expelled lawyers who are representing terror suspects in UP courts. In a meeting on Monday, the Bar Association decided to expel advocates AM Faridi and Mohammad Shoaib for allegedly supporting terrorists.
A statement issued by LBA asked the SSP to investigate the properties of the two expelled lawyers. The meeting was chaired by President of the association, CL Dixit.
LBA has also recommended Uttar Pradesh Bar Council to take action against the two and also demanded expulsion of Zafaryab Jilani from the Oudh Bar Association.
Talking to TwoCircles.net on phone from Lucknow, senior Allahabad High Court advocate Zafaryab Jilani said the LBA has not communicated officially to him and two other lawyers its decision to expel the two and to recommend the Oudh Bar Association to expel him. “We have not been communicated the decision officially. We came to know about it through newspapers,” Jilani said.
“So far the decision to expel our two members is concerned, I have discussed with them and they will challenge the resolution before the competent court whenever it is received. So far my expulsion is concerned; I was expelled 20 years ago, so I am not going to be their members,” Jilani said.
“But they have recommended to the Oudh Bar Association to expel me. So far the Oudh Bar Association is with me. Their elders have already condemned the incident, they have not condemned me. Let the recommendation reach the Oudh Bar Association. Let’s see whether they take notice or not. So far they are with me. They are not going to expel me,” said Jilani confidently.
The developments came in the wake of August 12 incidents in the civil court in which six alleged terrorists and their lawyers had been assaulted.
Last week lawyers in Lucknow had beaten up Mohammed Shoaib because he defied the ban imposed by the association and decided to defend Muslim youth accused for terrorism.
Giving details of the incident, Maulana Zaheer Alam Falahi whose detained relatives’ case related to UP court premises bombings has been taken up by Mohammad Shoaib, one of the expelled lawyers, told TwoCircles.net on phone from Allahabad: “On August 12 and 13 advocates Mohammad Shoaib, A M Faridi and Rizwan were beaten in Lucknow civil court. On August 13 again Shoaib was dragged out of his chamber and beaten. On August 14 they attacked Faridi but he was saved by some senior Muslim lawyers including Jilani who were present there.”
The incident has been condemned and LBA’s resolution has been opposed by many lawyers from Allahabad and Delhi. “The bar association’s action has been opposed by some lawyers from Allahabad High Court in Lucknow and in Delhi also. Both Hindu and Muslim lawyers have opposed it,” said Zaheer.
When Zafaryab Jilani was reminded that in his interview with TwoCircles.net two weeks ago he had said situation was getting normal and lawyers were coming to take up Muslim terrorism suspects’ cases, he said: “Yes, the situation was getting normal. What happened in Lucknow on 12th and 13th was first time in the history of lucknow court in my lifetime. And it has been condemned by all.”
“Some of those who were involved in the incident have approached some Muslim lawyers and indicated that they want to compromise” Jilani told TCN.
“Three office bearers of the Lucknow civil court and Allahabad Bar Association have condemned the incident. The lawyers are coming forward. When we face the situation the lawyers will come, if we do not face the situation, they will not come” he said adding “We will have to exercise our pressure and to face it,” he further said.
In March of this year, a group of lawyers had formed a group called Movement Against Terrorism to ensure adequate legal representation is made on behalf of Muslims accused of terrorism charges.
All over India many Muslim youths are arrested on charges but later they are found to be innocents and released. Yet various UP bar associations have passed resolution banning members for taking up cases of those accused of terrorism.
Giving details of the court bombing case, Zaheer said “Trial has begun in Faizabad court. Local lawyers and some from outside are defending the accused though they were opposed in the beginning.” He said 11 witnesses have appeared in Faizabad court and all denied to identify the accused.
Asked about the future course of action in the wake of the LBA’s resolution to expel two lawyers, Zafaryab Jilani said: “We are going to hold a state-level meeting of senior non-Muslim lawyers and human rights activists and social activists mainly from the majority community, in Lucknow on 31st August. In the meeting we will involve more and more senior non-Muslim advocates.”
The program will be sponsored by the Movement Against Terrorism and some other social and human rights organizations.