Lawyers protest demolished chambers

Legal fraternity boycotts courts, threatens to reclaim Katchery Chowk land

RAWALPINDI:

The legal fraternity observed a complete strike in Rawalpindi on Monday, boycotting court proceedings for not "compensating" against the demolished parts of the District Courts premises.

The District Bar Association accused the Rawalpindi district administration of reneging on its agreement concerning the District Courts Underpass and Overhead Bridge mega project.

According to the Bar, the administration had acquired and demolished parts of the District Courts premises - including lawyers' chambers, bar shops, and the court mosque - but has since failed to provide alternative land or reconstruct the demolished facilities as previously agreed.

In protest, lawyers observed a complete strike on Monday, boycotting all court proceedings. The Bar warned that should the administration fail to honour the agreement in full within 48 hours, members of the legal fraternity would dismantle all barriers around Katchery Chowk, reopen the blocked routes themselves, and reclaim the acquired land by commencing reconstruction work on it.

Bar leaders alleged that the administration and other relevant authorities were attempting to pressure and marginalise the legal community, warning that such tactics would not be tolerated.

They reiterated their support for the Katchery Chowk remodelling and redesign scheme - which they described as a national development initiative - but condemned the administration for reverting to what they termed its "characteristic high-handedness."

District Bar President Sardar Manzar Bashir and Secretary Malik Asad Mahmood stated that the administration had violated the agreed terms by sealing off all major and minor access routes to the courts, reducing the principal entrance from 30 feet to a mere 4 feet.