Lawyers call strike over chambers’ demolition

ISLAMABAD:

Adamant on constructing chambers on the footpath of the district court after "encroaching on the nearby football ground", the lawyers on Tuesday called for a boycott of courts and a complete strike of the legal fraternity on Wednesday too.

They also demanded the removal of the district and sessions judge who had asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) to remove the illegal structures.

The small single-room offices were built right in front of the district and sessions judge’s office and the courtroom.

The courts in Islamabad remained closed in protest against the demolition of the lawyers’ chamber at district courts or kutchery by the CDA.

Owing to the strike hearings of various graft references in accountability courts Islamabad on Tuesday adjourned without proceedings.

Accountability Court-II (AC-II) Judge Muhammad Azm Khan adjourned the hearing on LNG reference against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi till February 16, the reference against ex-prime minister Shaukat Aziz till February 22, while the graft case against former chairman CDA Farkhand Iqbal was adjourned till February 24.

Similarly, AC-I Judge Muhammad Bashir adjourned the hearing on graft reference against former chairman OGRA Toqeer Sadiq till February 25. AC-III Judge Syed Asghar Ali adjourned hearing on cases of former director-general NAB Subha Sadiq and Mirza Shafiq till February 17.

IHC CJ chairs meeting

All courts would reopen from Wednesday, said IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah chairing a meeting to review the security situation of the IHC following Monday’s rampage by the black coats. Interior Ministry secretary and high-ups of Islamabad police attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the IHC building was heavily guarded with personnel of police and paramilitary Rangers. The entry of media or unauthorised persons was banned on the premises.

The security of the Red Zone in the federal capital and SC building has been jacked up after Monday’s incident.

Extra contingents of the police have been deployed in and outside the apex court’s building while every vehicle entering Red Zone was being strictly checked.

Meanwhile, IHC issued contempt of court notices to 17 lawyers involved in vandalism and attack on the IHC chief justice’s block.

According to details, the activities in IHC and district court would resume from today after the cause-list was cancelled on Tuesday.

The contempt of court notices were issued to some 17 lawyers involved in storming IHC’s building. The Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) however announced a strike and demanded the removal of the sessions judge against the destruction of lawyers’ chambers.

Indignation expressed

Attorney General of Pakistan Kahlid Javed Khan talking to the media at the Supreme Court of Pakistan condemned the attack of lawyers on the Islamabad High Court. He said it was a new low.

What respect of the judiciary will be left if such incidents continue to occur, the top lawyer of the government said calling the events of Monday morning most regrettable.

Ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi condemned the IHC incident and expressed that such things happen when the government was not a representative of the people. Talking to the media outside an accountability court, Abbasi said that the doors of the courts in the country had been shut down today. The courts are unprotected, he said and added that it would be unjust if the courts, law, and constitution faced such circumstances.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2021.