He termed it a ‘genuine’ demand and said it was made keeping in view the country’s security situation. PHOTO: FILE
The Lahore High Court Bar Association’s (LHCBA) Rawalpindi bench filed an application in the Supreme Court for installation of CCTV cameras in the court’s premises.
The application, filed by LHCBA president Taufiq Asif, appeals to the Supreme Court to direct the Rawalpindi district government to allocate funds for security cameras in and around the premises of the high court as well as the lower courts in light of the law and order situation.
“We have filed an application in the Supreme Court and demanded installation of cameras in the high court and lower courts,” said Asif, while talking to The Express Tribune.
He termed it a ‘genuine’ demand and said it was made keeping in view the country’s security situation. “Security cameras have been installed in the past but they become dysfunctional due to non-maintenance,” he said, adding that there are always security threats and we want to take some precautionary measures as the cameras will help check movement of suspected elements.
The Express Tribune also learnt that an official of the district government appeared before the court in this regard and informed that they are working on the plan to install cameras.
VIP movement
The District Bar Association (DBA) and LHCBA also held a meeting with an official from the army station commander’s office and discussed mutual security issues.
There have been a number of intense clashes between army officials and lawyers as the bustling lower courts of Rawalpindi are located smack on the route between GHQ and the army chief’s house. “The roads are blocked
by security personnel whenever there is VIP movement and it is a big issue for us,” said a member of the association.
DBA President Israrul Haq informed that the meeting was held in the chambers of District and Session Judge Maroof Ahmad Ali with a colonel from General Headquarters.
“We asked them to construct an overhead bridge or use an alternate route during VIP movement so as to lessen the disturbance value for commuters as well as the courts’ visitors,” said Haq
Regarding the car parking issue near the newly constructed judicial complex, the army official agreed to provide space for parking of 300.
“The official has accepted our demand of constructing a flyover and they will also inform us regarding VIP movement,” he said, adding that altercations between lawyers and army officials will subside if such measures are taken.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2013.
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