CJP meets disgruntled Multan attorneys

Many lawyers including the current and previous presidents were arrested by the police

MULTAN: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar visited the Multan High Court Judicial Complex to meet the lawyers who were protesting the transfer of courts from Katchehry to the new judicial complex located at Mati Tal road in Multan.

The lawyers took out a rally from Chowk Katchehry to Multan High Court, where they met the CJP and expressed gratitude over his visit.

The lawyers demanded that courts be shifted back to their original location at the Katchehry. The chief justice only met with the Mirza Akbar Baig group of lawyers. After which he also took a round of the judicial complex.



Justice Nisar was irked by the lack of facilities and directed Session Judge Ameer Khan to ensure provision of facilities to not only lawyers but also to all citizens. Before leaving, the chief justice said that the issue will be resolved within two days.

On the other hand, for the past seven days, there have been no court proceedings owing to the lawyers’ strike over the shifting of the court’s premises. They were also joined by the 20 lawyers that the police released.

Sources from Multan’s District Bar Association claim that the Lahore High Court chief justice had invited a delegation of lawyers so that their issues and demands could be heard but the protesting lawyers have remained stubborn in their stance and say they will continue to stage the sit-in till all their demands are met.



The sit-in has caused severe traffic jams in the area, making it an issue for commuters while the police too have put up barriers on the roads leading to Chowk Kutchehry, blocking the traffic.

The angry lawyers had earlier launched an attack on the new judicial complex, damaging property including furniture and windows, despite there being a severe lack of basic facilities at the old complex.

Many lawyers including the current and previous presidents of the District and High Court bars of Multan were arrested by the police following the attack.

Bar sources said that a delegation met the chief justice at 2pm in Lahore today and presented the lawyers' demands. Meanwhile, the Multan sessions judge inaugurated the women’s bar room, dispensary and shuttle service at the new judicial complex. He also said that the courts are fully functioning and cases can be heard at the new complex.