Capital’s lower courts to stay shut in June

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) crisis management committee has decided to keep the district and special courts in the federal capital closed until June 30.

However, hearing of cases deemed to be of an emergency nature will continue.

The decision was taken in light of a spike in the novel coronavirus (Covid-19 cases in the federal capital.

Islamabad District Bar (IDB) President Zafar Khokar said that the committee has decided to maintain the closure of courts until the end of June.

He added that the decision was made keeping in light of the input from all stakeholders. Khokar said as many as eight employees of district courts and five lawyers have been infected with the virus so far. Therefore, the stakeholders turned down the reopening of courts now. The official termed the protection of judiciary, litigants and lawyers as their priority.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2020.