Letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Letter from the Department of State
Letter from the Sindh High Court Bar Association
THE BAR ASSOCIATION of the District of Columbia
November 6, 2007
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary
The United States Department of State
2200 “C” Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Rice:
Founded in 1871, the Bar Association of the District of Columbia is one of the oldest legal organizations in the United States of America and proud to be deeply rooted to this Nation’s Capitol, the cornerstone of democracy. The Bar Association of the District of Columbia condemns the acts of President Musharraf of Pakistan. The suspension of the national constitution, the round up of Pakistani lawyers and judges, and the crushing and silencing of those who protest in support of the independence of the bar and judiciary is antithetical to a lawful society and a threat to the rule of law.
The Bar Association of the District of Columbia stands with millions in solidarity with the courage and struggle of our Pakistani colleagues. We urge President Musharraf to free all arrested lawyers and reinstate Pakistan’s Supreme Court. The Bar Association of the District of Columbia hereby unanimously adopts the attached resolution, “Resolution of The Bar Association of the District of Columbia Condemning the Suspension of the Constitution, the Closing of the Judiciary, and the Imprisonment of Lawyers in Pakistan.” This resolution is being circulated worldwide in an attempt to support our colleagues in Pakistan.
The Bar Association of the District of Columbia calls on our government leaders to use every peaceful, legal means to persuade President Musharraf to restore justice to the people of Pakistan.
Sincerely,
Paulette E. Chapman
President
cc:
| President Pervez Musharraf Speaker Nancy Pelosi Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton Congressman Tom Davis Congressman Chris VanHollen Congressman Frank Wolf Congressman Al Wynn |
Chief Justice of Pakistan , Mr. Chaudhry President, Sindh High Court Bar Assoc. Pakistan Bar Council Pakistani American Association of Greater Washington Pakistani Ambassador to the US News Agencies Mayor and Council of the District of Columbia |