Encroachment: LBA to form senior lawyers’ committee on illegal chambers issue

Lawyers who resist demolition might lose licence, LBA membership.

LAHORE: Lahore Bar Association (LBA) is planning to form a committee comprising some former vice presidents from the Model Town seat to settle the issue of illegal construction of lawyers’ chambers on the Model Town court premises. The committee will try to persuade lawyers to demolish the chambers they built last Saturday.

Requesting anonymity, an LBA leader said they would form a committee for the purpose which would request the lawyers to remove their chambers and keep the LBA abreast of the situation. “They will inform the LBA about the lawyers who refused to remove their chambers.” He said they will then move a motion in the LBA’s general house meeting to rescind their membership and try to get their licences cancelled. The LBA will then seek the government’s help in demolishing the chambers.



He said the DCO’s office wanted LBA representatives present at the scene when they demolished the chambers.

LBA representatives said they will not be present at the scene, however, they would ensure that there was no violence. They said they did not want the government to arrest any lawyers.

The DCO’s office responded saying they would not remove the chambers if LBA representatives did not accompany them.

Tariq Zaman, PSO to the DCO office, said it was too early to comment on the matter as the LBA had sought time to solve the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2014.