‘Wuklagardi’: Punjab governor asks lawyers to refrain from violence

Announces Rs10m for Islamabad High Court Bar Association

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Governor Malik Rafique Rajwana, while urging lawyers to refrain from what he called ‘Wuklagardi’ (violence) added there was always a more appropriate way of registering protests. Himself a lawyer, the governor assured bar members that he was one of them and would return to the profession once his term as governor was over.

Rajwana said this at a ceremony organised for him by members of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) at the court’s premises here on Tuesday.



Earlier, the IHCBA President, Raja Aleem Abbasi had requested the governor to ensure provision of swift justice to the families of Daska incident but his request went unnoticed. Despite mentioning his source of satisfaction being a lawyer, Rajwana somehow forgot to address the issue of the killing of two lawyers in Daska by the police.

Meanwhile, the governor during his address announced a grant of Rs10 million for the IHCBA from the prime minister. “This is all I could arrange for the time being,” he said, while referring to lawyer representatives’ earlier demand of Rs200 million.

Though Rajwana did not restrict the lawyers in terms of where to spend the amount, yet he suggested the amount be spent on up-gradation of the existing library.

Rajwana assured lawyers that he would present their issues, including the need of a judicial complex, financial help, shifting of the district courts to a suitable location, better opportunities for junior lawyers, offices for bar associations etc, to the prime minister in his meeting today.

He said he wished to bridge the gap between the government and the lawyers’ community. The governor also promised his support and cooperation to the women lawyers.

Rajwana said that the government was taking steps to improve the quality of teaching faculties of various universities and colleges.

The governor also said that the prime minister built consensus of all political parties on core issues, including the economic corridor, war against terrorism and the operation in Karachi.



Earlier, the IHCBA President, Raja Aleem Khan Abbasi said that political parties always used lawyers when they were in opposition but as soon as they come into power, the same lawyers get sidelined.

Abbasi, while pointing at the poor working conditions at the district courts located in a market area in F-8 Markaz said, that “justice was being served, in the markets”.

Abbasi informed the governor that several business tycoons were willing to help solve all the issues facing the bar association, yet they were more interested in getting govt’s help. “Integrity and independence will be compromised, if we accept help from business tycoons,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2015.