PHOTO: INP
The measure, though, prompted a strong protest from the legal fraternity which announced to boycott court proceedings while they also blocked lanes leading to the courts. As a result, several cases could not be heard on Friday.
As part of the ongoing anti-encroachment drive, over a dozen chambers built by lawyers in and around the kutchery were demolished early on Friday morning.
When lawyers arrived in the morning, they found rubble where their chambers were. As a result, a large number of lawyers started to protest against the move.
The Islamabad Bar Association, whose President Riasat Ali Azad and Secretary Khursheed Butt led a large number of lawyers in their protest, termed the demolition as illegal and began rebuilding the chambers.
Speaking at the occasion, Azad said that he had contacted both, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and officials at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) — who are jointly conducting the ongoing anti-encroachment operation in the city.
However, Azad said that both had denied involvement in the demolition of the chambers.
“CDA said that it did not demolish the chambers,” he said.
“Those responsible for the action will be liable to pay for the reconstruction of our chambers,” Azad added, noting that the move was an attempt to distract from their ongoing protest calling for the rotation of judges within the capital.
On the other hand, Bar Secretary Butt alleged that the attorney general had offered incorrect recommendations pertaining to the rotation of judges.
“We reject the recommendations given by the attorney general,” he said, adding that the strike and the protest will continue until their demands are met.
Others who spoke on the occasion including Pir Fida Hussain Hashmi, Syed Jawadul Hasan Kazmi and Mazharul Haq said that the district courts were operating in plazas.
They complained that neither they nor the courts were taken into confidence regarding the demolition of their chambers and the deed was committed surreptitiously in the dark of the night.
“The lawyers' community is united and we will continue our protests which could extend to the divisional, provincial or even the national levels,” they warned, adding that a complete strike will be held until their demands are fulfilled.
As a result of the strike and blockade of the routes leading to and from the courts, hundreds of cases pending in the subordinate courts were adjourned without any proceedings.
Citizens who had arrived for hearings of their respective cases faced great difficulties due to the protest.
CDA distances itself
Meanwhile, the CDA has distanced itself from the demolition of the chambers in Sector F-8.
CDA Enforcement Director Faheem Badshah told Daily Express that the operation had been conducted by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, adding that they only provided logistical support.
Despite repeated attempts, officials of the ICT administration did not respond.
As part of the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in the capital, CDA’s enforcement directorate and the ICT administration jointly work together along with heavy machinery from CDA’s machine pool organisation (MPO) to demolish illegal structures.
A heavy contingent of police is also deployed to avert any untoward situation and to control crowds. However, the CDA and the ICT usually conduct the operation during the day.
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