Election candidates would be stopped from entering the offices of the returning officers if divisional LHC benches are not set up. PHOTO: FILE
Representatives of district bar associations in Faisalabad, Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala and Sahiwal revenue divisions said on Thursday that they would not let returning officers perform their duties in the upcoming general elections until Lahore High Court benches are set up in each division.
The decision was taken during a lawyers’ convention chaired by Faisalabad bar association president Mian Javaid Iqbal here.
Iqbal said the lawyers would not let returning officers or assistant returning officers receive nomination papers for provincial and national elections.
He said the potential candidates would be stopped to enter the offices of the returning officers, most of them locked at district court buildings.
He said the returning officers too would not be allowed to hold court for the purpose.
“The campaign for LHC divisional benches has been on for three decades,” said Iqbal.
He said, “Professional fees are the lawyers’ only source of income.
By observing a strike, we are not taking any new cases. This is a significant sacrifice.” City Police Officer (CPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana told The Express Tribune that as appointees of the Election Commission of Pakistan, the returning officers had the powers to prosecute any person who broke the law or tried to sabotage the election process.
He said, “If we receive such complaints from a returning officer, we will not hesitate to take action against the offenders.”
On March 18, the governor had reportedly asked for comments from the LHC chief justice and the Finance Department on a proposal sent by the provincial cabinet for setting up the benches.
Lawyers from the five divisions have asked the LHC chief justice to approve the new benches. The Faisalabad division lawyers have been on strike for over a month in support of the demand.
The LHCBA had held two general house meetings last week and rejected the cabinet’s decision, calling it a move to dent the lawyers’ unity. It also announced it would take up the matter with superior judiciary.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2013.
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KIND ATTENTION OF CHIEF JUSTICE OF PAKISTAN AND CHIEF JUSTICE OF LAHORE HIGH COURT LAHORE: It is a matter of great concern that the lawyers are demanding for High court benches at five Divisions. This not an illegal demand nor it will affect the unity of the lawyers, rather it will prove great unity. We all know that the lawyers from far areas are practicing at Lahore and Inshallah when the benches are established, not only the said lawyers but the general public also would be fruited. So I invite the attention of Hon,ble Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Lahore, to take positive steps towards establishment of five division benches of High Court within the shortest possible time, so as to avoid any rift amongst the lawyers. I hope the needful may be done at the earliest.
Can we have the SUO MOTO action by CJ, as his foot soldiers have denied justice to scores of people by going on strike and taking law into their hands