Pakistan lawyers protest emergency rule as court hears constitutional challenges
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council called the governor’s rule and emergency imposed in the province unconstitutional and announced a province-wide lawyers’ strike for October 19, along with a petition in the Peshawar High Court. It said senior lawyer Ameer Ijaz was allegedly abducted in Mardan about a month earlier; colleagues suspect law-enforcement agencies, an allegation Dawn does not substantiate. On October 20, the Peshawar High Court issued notices to the federal government on petitions challenging the measures and adjourned the hearing until November 10.