In a pickle: Courts remain padlocked in Swat amidst dispute
Swat Bar Association adamant over sessions judge’s transfer.
Peshawar High Court Bar Association President Fazal Ghafoor was of the view that lawyers have only boycotted the courts of two judges.
MINGORA:
Thousands of people continue to suffer as courtrooms in Swat district remain shut since the past one week over a dispute between law practitioners and judges.
Over 20 courts, including the high court bench, were padlocked after the Swat Bar Association filed a complaint against sessions judge Sharif Ahmad and demanded his transfer.
The conflict has rendered locals coming from far flung areas, in pursuance of petty cases, helpless. “I have been coming every day for a week just to obtain a copy of the verdict in my case,” Niaz Ahmad Khan, a resident of Mingora, told The Express Tribune.
“I have been staying at a hotel for three days and they are yet to conduct a session in my case,” said Asif Khan, a resident of Gabral.
On the contrary, Swat Bar Association General Secretary Inayatullah also portrayed the lawyer community as a victim of the dispute. “550 lawyers attend proceedings at the district court and the discord has deprived them of their prime source of income,” he maintained.
Peshawar High Court Bar Association President Fazal Ghafoor was of the view that lawyers have only boycotted the courts of two judges.
“We are not attending hearings before Sharif Ahmad and additional sessions judge Mirza Kashif,” said Ghafoor, claiming the latter’s demeanour has also been extremely hostile and he also put a lawyer behind bars over personal reasons. Ghafoor blamed Ahmad for inciting clerks to boycott work and cause unnecessary fuss.
The clerical staff at the court has also discontinued work, accusing the lawyers of “bullying”.
Malakand Division Clerk Association Vice Chairman Bakht Sher Ali concurred with the allegation. “They (lawyers) want to enforce a system of their choice,” he said, claiming the protesting lawyers had vandalised their offices a few days back.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2015.
Thousands of people continue to suffer as courtrooms in Swat district remain shut since the past one week over a dispute between law practitioners and judges.
Over 20 courts, including the high court bench, were padlocked after the Swat Bar Association filed a complaint against sessions judge Sharif Ahmad and demanded his transfer.
The conflict has rendered locals coming from far flung areas, in pursuance of petty cases, helpless. “I have been coming every day for a week just to obtain a copy of the verdict in my case,” Niaz Ahmad Khan, a resident of Mingora, told The Express Tribune.
“I have been staying at a hotel for three days and they are yet to conduct a session in my case,” said Asif Khan, a resident of Gabral.
On the contrary, Swat Bar Association General Secretary Inayatullah also portrayed the lawyer community as a victim of the dispute. “550 lawyers attend proceedings at the district court and the discord has deprived them of their prime source of income,” he maintained.
Peshawar High Court Bar Association President Fazal Ghafoor was of the view that lawyers have only boycotted the courts of two judges.
“We are not attending hearings before Sharif Ahmad and additional sessions judge Mirza Kashif,” said Ghafoor, claiming the latter’s demeanour has also been extremely hostile and he also put a lawyer behind bars over personal reasons. Ghafoor blamed Ahmad for inciting clerks to boycott work and cause unnecessary fuss.
The clerical staff at the court has also discontinued work, accusing the lawyers of “bullying”.
Malakand Division Clerk Association Vice Chairman Bakht Sher Ali concurred with the allegation. “They (lawyers) want to enforce a system of their choice,” he said, claiming the protesting lawyers had vandalised their offices a few days back.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2015.