Fuel shortage forces Pindi court closures

RAWALPINDI:

Amid a petroleum shortage triggered by the ongoing US–Israel war on Iran, all courts across the Rawalpindi Division—including the Lahore High Court (LHC)'s Rawalpindi bench, as well as session, civil, family, magistrate and special courts—will remain completely closed for two days.

On Friday and Saturday, no detainees will be transported from Adiala Jail to any courts in Rawalpindi or Islamabad for hearings. All cases scheduled for these two days have been adjourned without proceedings.

However, at the District Courts in Rawalpindi, two duty civil judges have been appointed for each day to hear only urgent matters, including physical remand, judicial remand, and urgent bail applications. No regular cases will be taken up.

District Bar Association President Tariq Mahmood Sajid Awan has also issued a circular confirming these arrangements.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, session, civil, family, magistrate and special courts collectively granted physical remand of 34 accused persons, sent 21 to jail on judicial remand, convicted four individuals, and acquitted one. Divorce decrees were issued to four women, while one woman was sent to a shelter home (Dar-ul-Aman).

In separate narcotics cases, accused were sentenced to 10 yand nine years' imprisonment respectively.