Lawyers angry at IHC ban on events in court

Say it would not push them back


Rizwan Shehzad October 12, 2016
Declaring it “the worst intervention,” Malik posted on his Facebook page that “None in the history dared to intervene in the affairs of Bar Associations.” PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: In a move which has raised a few eyebrows and has the potential to create another clash between the bar and bench, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Anwer Khan Kasi has directed that any one organising a function or a gathering at subordinate courts during court hours would have to seek the prior approval of the IHC.

A notification carrying the directives surfaced on Tuesday.

The notification has generated intense debate among lawyers, especially after they had passed a resolution seeking the resignation of Justice Kasi on October 4 and had announced plans to hold their general body meetings outside the IHC chief justice’s courtroom on daily basis unless Justice Kasi resigns.

The lawyers had passed the resolution after the Supreme Court declared recent appointments made in the IHC as illegal.

Following the resolution, Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) General Secretary Mohammad Waqas Malik had said that a legion of lawyers was gearing up to hold their GBM outside Justice Kasi’s courtroom. Addressing lawyers at the October 4 meeting, Malik had said they would hold a GBM during the court timings on daily basis after a fortnight.

In the October 3 notification issued by the IHC registrar, Justice Kasi addressed the district and session judges of East and West districts to strictly observe court timings and imposed restrictions on functions and gathering within the courts premises.

Declaring it “the worst intervention,” Malik posted on his Facebook page that “None in the history dared to intervene in the affairs of Bar Associations.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2016.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ