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Lawyer’s Movement

Presented by:Zumra Nawaz Cheema

ZahidaUzma Batool

Umm-e-Habiba

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Anwar, M. (2009). How does a single personal

issue become Social Movement Discourse? Netherlands: Institute of Social Studies.

The Pakistan Lawyer's Movement and the Popular Currency of Judicial Power. (n.d.). Havard Law Review, 1705-1726.

References

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How a professional single issue campaign develop a discourse to became a social movement?

Communicative acts(Mass Media)

Role of communicative discourse(Theory of Communicative Action)

Challenges and opportunities (play role in participation and

sustaining social movement)

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• Started with deposition of Chief Justice (CJ) by

Pervaiz Musharaf on 9 March 2007 • Legal proceedings and restoration on 20 July 2007• Martial Law 2 Nov. 2007• Again deposition of CJ with 64 judges• Reconstituted Supreme Court and presidential

elections and Pervaiz Musharaf become president• Coalition government of PPP and PMLN Feb 2008

with resignation of Pervaiz Musharaf and restoration of CJ and other Judges on March 2009

Introduction and Background

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Judicial agents (Lawyers and Judges) and judicial

institutional structure (bar rooms with communicative action potential) play very important role in expanding the scope of the movement and getting support not only from lawyers but also from citizens

They remain very successful in building casual relationship between judiciary and rule of law, rule of law and freedom of common man etc. The restoration was taken as necessary for all other development imperatives

Institutionalization of Issue

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The lawyers represented them selves as peaceful and civilized and more interestingly they were using the references from liberal philosophy(i.e UK after WWII) instead of Islamic scholars

“After 60 years of our national life, it was the first time that the lawyers protested continuously for two years. We were peaceful and have never damaged a single light on a street. The movement earned good name for Pakistan in civilized world”.

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Theory of Communicative Action

(TCA)

Communicative rationality or Theory of Communicative Action (TCA) of Jurgen Habermas provides an entry point to the analysis of communication model of lawyers‘ movement.

adherence to good reasoning as basis of ―procedural conception of rationality.

discourse is ideal speech situation‘ while consensus is a rationally motivated agreement

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To Habermas, language is a means of

communicative acts to reach understanding on the basis of rationality and reasons. Thus, Language of the communicative act and speech act had of specific focus, as carrier of reasons and rationality.

“that form of social interaction in which the plans of action of different actors are co-ordinated through an exchange of communicative acts, that is, through a use of language orientated towards reaching understanding” (Habermas, 1984).

Role of language

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Despite the appeal of this bottom-up characterization of the expansion of judicial power in Pakistan, the strategic maneuverings of elites were a prime driver of the movement and a key determinant of its success. professionals from elite class and opposition pol. parties i.e. PPP and PMLN benefitted enormously from their affiliation with the lawyers

the commitment from young poor lawyers [to resistance] comes from the fact that [bar leaders] need to face the electorate every year.

Media long-term financial interest to continue providing credible, independent news coverage i.e. Geo TV took a particularly principled stand.

Opportunities for popular participation

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Conclusion

Lawyer’s movement is a very good example to review social movement having characteristics to bring change through organized efforts.

“we are the people seeking change, the change which is desirable and our struggle will earn good name for Pakistan” based upon:• Cause ( Judicial Independence)• Symbolism (CJ, Constitution, Peace, Bar association)• Heroic and charismatic leadership• Use of Mass mediaand eventually ends at the success of cause.

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