Litigants suffer as lawyers’ protest enters sixth day

Legal fraternity reiterates resolve to continue protest till acceptance of their demands

MULTAN: Hundreds of litigants, who came from far-flung areas, suffered problems as the lawyers observed complete strike against lack of facilities at New Judicial Complex on Tuesday. The lawyers protest and sit-in against the shifting of the courts to New Judicial Complex has entered sixth day at Katcheri Chowk. The legal fraternity reiterated resolve to continue the protest till the acceptance of their demands.

A litigant Farhatullah, who hailed from Multaniwala, a far-flung village, told The Express Tribune, “I have been visiting the court to get my son’s bail but hearing could not be held due to lawyers’ protest.” He said that he was helpless in releasing his son from jail.

Reiterating their resolve to not to go to facilities-deprived New Judicial Complex Building until the construction of lawyers’ chambers and other facilities, they said that if the courts could be shifted to the New Judicial Complex on a short notice then shifting it back would not create problems.



Senior lawyer Syed Irfan Haider Shamsi said that the government was ridiculing lawyers by forced shifting of courts without providing space for facilities.

The lawyers said that their sit-in would continue till the acceptance of their demands, including shifting back of court complex from New Judicial Academy to old Kutchery premises.

Earlier on December 13, dozens of lawyers stormed and vandalised the newly-constructed Judicial Complex after their protest against the shifting of the building went unheard.

The lawyers had also staged a protest outside the old Judicial Complex at Katcheri Chowk earlier in the day. Among their demands was the construction of a chamber at the new site.

The lawyers then marched to the new premises on Matital Road and broke windows and doors of the judges’ rooms and courtrooms.

They said the decision to shift the courts was premature. The construction was not complete and there were no washrooms, bar rooms, or any other rooms.



Several lawyers were also taken into custody by police for their alleged involvement in ransacking the New Judicial Complex.

Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, under fire for his alleged role in the Model Town incident, defended the lawyers’ actions, saying they were exercising their democratic right. He said the police were given instructions to ensure none of the protesters were harmed in any way.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2017.