For security reasons: Traders seek shifting of district courts

Say their presence in F-8 Markaz is a source of inconvenience, security threats

The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) committee for shifting of courts have appealed to the Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to arrange early shifting of district courts and some Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) offices from F-8 Markaz. They said that the presence of the courts and offices poses serious security threats to the lives of judges and lawyers and creates problems for traders and residents of the area, according to a press release.

ICCI President Muzzamil Hussain Sabri while addressing the committee said that as one of the biggest commercial centres of Islamabad, the market was not a suitable place for district courts in terms of safety and security.

He said two terrorist attacks have already been conducted at the courts in the past eight years in which over 25 people were killed including a judge and leaving many injured. The incidents also badly affected business activities causing significant loss to traders of the area. In this scenario, it is imperative to shift district courts to a safer place for ensuring proper security of judges and lawyers, he added.

Sabri said the presence of district courts in F-8 Markaz was also a source of inconvenience for residents and traders and it was high time that government makes necessary arrangements for their urgent shifting.

Appreciating the government’s initiative to shift the offices of the chief commissioner and deputy commissioner from Sector F-8 to Sector G-11/4, he urged that the district courts and remaining ICT offices should also be moved from the area.

The committee members said that apart from the courts, many schools and offices have also been set up in the business centre creating parking problems and traffic jams during rush hours. They emphasised that the local administration should look into these problems and take necessary measures to address them on priority basis.

The committee includes Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi as chairman and Abdul Rauf Alam, Zubair Ahmed Malik, Khalid Malik and Naeemur Piracha as members.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2015.