Harsh attitude: Pindi lawyers to boycott two LHC judges
RHCBA officials say they are in touch with the bench and may withdraw call if settlement is reached
PHOTO: EXPRESS
RAWALPINDI:
To protest against the alleged untoward behaviour towards young lawyers by two judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench, a body of lawyers have decided to boycott these judges in protest.
Though some believe the boycott has more to do with a case of the Rawalpindi High Court Bar Association (RHCBA) President Mujeebur Rehman Kiani was dismissed when the lawyer could not turn up on time.
In a meeting of the Rawalpindi High Court Bar Association (RHCBA) held late on Friday, the executive body of the bar discussed the complaints they had received from young lawyers over the alleged behaviour of Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin and Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi.
Subsequently, in a resolution passed by the executive body, the lawyers decided to boycott these judges.
Moreover, they asked LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah not to send the two judges to the Rawalpindi bench of the high court in future.
Some lawyers of RHCBA who were part of the meeting revealed that the bar in general was divided over the executive body’s decision since the matter did not seem to stem just from the behaviour of the judges towards young lawyers.
A lawyer, who did not wish to be named fearing retribution, said that Justice Lodhi had on Thursday dismissed an urgent case filed by RHCBA President Mujeebur Rehman Kiani after Kiani could not reach the court on time.
Advocate Kiani subsequently had criticised the haste in which the case had been dismissed, the lawyer said.
The annoyed president then reportedly took up the matter before the executive body of the bar which decided to boycott the court of Justice Lodhi and Justice Amin from Monday, the lawyer said.
However, the bar officially listed the complaints it received from young lawyers over the bad behaviour of the two judges as the reason for their decision to boycott.
Another lawyer, however, pointed out that Justice Lodhi had been following the practice of dismissing urgent cases if the relevant lawyers failed to turn up in court on time. He added that there could be a number of reasons which delayed the lawyers and the judge ought to adjourn the case for another day.
The lawyer though confirmed that the bar had received complaints from many lawyers about the behaviour of the two judges, especially towards young lawyers.
It may be pertinent to mention that Justice Lodhi hails from Rawalpindi while Justice Amin hails from Chakwal.
When contacted, RHCBA General Secretary Faisal Butt said that representatives of the bar were in touch with the judges and that if they manage to settle the issue with the bench, the boycott call might be withdrawn.
He added that LHC Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is expected to sit at the Rawalpindi bench on Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2017.
To protest against the alleged untoward behaviour towards young lawyers by two judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench, a body of lawyers have decided to boycott these judges in protest.
Though some believe the boycott has more to do with a case of the Rawalpindi High Court Bar Association (RHCBA) President Mujeebur Rehman Kiani was dismissed when the lawyer could not turn up on time.
In a meeting of the Rawalpindi High Court Bar Association (RHCBA) held late on Friday, the executive body of the bar discussed the complaints they had received from young lawyers over the alleged behaviour of Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin and Justice Ibadur Rehman Lodhi.
Subsequently, in a resolution passed by the executive body, the lawyers decided to boycott these judges.
Moreover, they asked LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah not to send the two judges to the Rawalpindi bench of the high court in future.
Some lawyers of RHCBA who were part of the meeting revealed that the bar in general was divided over the executive body’s decision since the matter did not seem to stem just from the behaviour of the judges towards young lawyers.
A lawyer, who did not wish to be named fearing retribution, said that Justice Lodhi had on Thursday dismissed an urgent case filed by RHCBA President Mujeebur Rehman Kiani after Kiani could not reach the court on time.
Advocate Kiani subsequently had criticised the haste in which the case had been dismissed, the lawyer said.
The annoyed president then reportedly took up the matter before the executive body of the bar which decided to boycott the court of Justice Lodhi and Justice Amin from Monday, the lawyer said.
However, the bar officially listed the complaints it received from young lawyers over the bad behaviour of the two judges as the reason for their decision to boycott.
Another lawyer, however, pointed out that Justice Lodhi had been following the practice of dismissing urgent cases if the relevant lawyers failed to turn up in court on time. He added that there could be a number of reasons which delayed the lawyers and the judge ought to adjourn the case for another day.
The lawyer though confirmed that the bar had received complaints from many lawyers about the behaviour of the two judges, especially towards young lawyers.
It may be pertinent to mention that Justice Lodhi hails from Rawalpindi while Justice Amin hails from Chakwal.
When contacted, RHCBA General Secretary Faisal Butt said that representatives of the bar were in touch with the judges and that if they manage to settle the issue with the bench, the boycott call might be withdrawn.
He added that LHC Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is expected to sit at the Rawalpindi bench on Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2017.