ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Law has increased its efforts to make space for the lower judiciary and lawyers’ chambers in G-10, where the Islamabad High Court (IHC) is currently housed.
The ministry is trying to get the IHC moved to the-empty building of National Industrial Relations Commission in G-5, near the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Parliament Lodges.
Official sources said on Thursday that the ministry had expedited its efforts following recent comments by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry during his visit to Karachi. He had highlighted the miserable conditions of the lower judiciary, especially in the twin cities. He had said that courts and chambers are surrounded by khokhas, which is against the “dignity” of the legal profession.
But it is not just a matter of dignity. The current location of Islamabad District and Sessions Courts and the lawyers’ chambers are very vulnerable to security threats. The security vulnerability was especially highlighted in 2007 when a suicide bomber attacked a lawyer’s assembly while CJP Chaudhry was addressing a lawyers’ assembly.
An official in the ministry said, “The premises in G-10/2 are much safer than those in F-8.”
Thousands of litigants visit the district and sessions court every day. A judge of the lower court deals with around 200 cases every day. There are presently four sessions’ judges, eight civil judges and 2,600 registered lawyers practicing in the district courts.
District Bar Association President Haroon Rashid told The Express Tribune that the government had showed willingness to construct lawyers’ chambers in G-10/2, near the current IHC building. About Rs3 billion are required for the complex, he added.
The complex will have nine storeys and 40 kanals have been allocated for the purpose by the Capital Development Authority, Rashid said. In the first phase, 1,000 chambers will be established for lawyers.
The never-ending wait
In Rawalpindi, around 37 courts continue to function at their current congested premises near the Army House. Even though the new premises for the Rawalpindi Judicial Complex were to be completed by March 2010, it is highly unlikely that they will be ready for use even by bu that time next year.
The original deadline for the complex was revised from March 2010 to March 2011. Then the completion deadline was revised once again to March 2012.
But, according to Rawalpindi District Bar Secretary General Sardar Manzar Bashir, the complex will not be completed even if the required funds are released on time. He said that Rs300 million are currently needed for the completion of the complex. This quarter, the Government of Punjab had to release Rs100 million, but did not do so, he added.
About 30,000 people visit the Rawalpindi District Courts every day. The lawyers’ community and litigants are complaining that security measures in the current premises are inadequate, as indicated by exchange of fire between litigants on several occasions.
The anti-terrorist courts have already been shifted to the commissioner office in Rawalpindi to minimise security threats.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2011.
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