Gather in large numbers, shout slogans against Himayat Baig's defence lawyer
Gather in large numbers, shout slogans against Himayat Baig's defence lawyerHigh drama unfolded outside the courtroom on the Shivajinagar sessions court premises yesterday after Advocate A Rehman represented Mirza Himayat Baig despite several appeals by the Pune Bar Association to lawyers that they should not file the vakalatnama of the prime suspect in the German Bakery blast case.
NOT HAPPY: Pune Bar Association members protest against Advocate
A Rehman for taking up Baig's defence. Pic/Nikhil Ghorpade
Bar association president Milind Pawar and other members shouted slogans condemning Rehman and also demanded cancellation of his membership. About 100 lawyers gathered outside the main building of the court and decided to take a call on Rehman's membership in the general body meeting of the association."We had appealed in the national interest to Advocate Rehman and all other lawyers to not represent Baig as long as investigations are on," Pawar said. "We, too, respect the right of any accused to defend himself."Laxman Ghadge-Patil, former president of the Pune Bar Association, said, "Though Advocate Rehman is a senior member of the association, he has gone against the association's decision by taking up Baig's case at the wrong time. We condemn his decision."Proceedings hitWhen Baig was produced before magistrate Swaroop Bose by officers of the Anti-Terrorism Squad, Rehman stood up to file the vakalatnama, but the procedure was interrupted by Advocate Pawar.u00a0Pawar told the court that the bar association had appealed to its members to not take up Baig's case. In response, Rehman said that according to the law the accused had a right to defend himself. The court then admitted the vakalatnama submitted by Rehman.
