Lawyers’ strike: Hearing into Benazir murder case adjourned

Lawyers to resist shifting of civil courts ‘at any cost’

RAWALPINDI: Hearing into former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case could not take place on Monday due to a country-wide strike by lawyers against their colleague’s recent killing in Karachi. The next hearing will be held on September 2.

The former premier’s driver on the day of her assassination, Javaidur Rehman, appeared in court on Monday. Rehman has been recalled on the next hearing along with two other suspects.

The court also sought a copy of American journalist Mark Siegel’s e-mail in which he showed his availability to record his statement on October 1 or 2.

Besides, two other suspects, Bhutto’s security in-charge SP Ishtiaq Shah and Dr Azam, were also present in the court.

In another case, anti-terrorist court-II Judge Asif Majeed Awan on Monday awarded a sentence of 28 years rigorous imprisonment to two accused for possessing explosive materials.

Jhelum police had arrested two accused, identified as Nasim and Mumtaz, with a huge quantity of explosives.

The prosecution presented charge-sheet before the court which pronounced the judgment, awarding 28 years imprisonment to each culprit.

New civil courts complex

Meanwhile, lawyers and the Rawalpindi District Bar have opposed the decision of Lahore High Court to shift 26 civil courts in a newly-constructed Judicial Complex in Jhanda Chichi which is located a few kilometres from the old katcheri. The multi-storey complex has been constructed near the Civil Lines Police Station and Rs3 million will be paid as rent of the new complex.

The decision has led to a conflict between the judiciary and the district bar. Lawyers erected banners in the district courts on Monday, saying they will not allow the shifting of the court.

Senior lawyers have announced to present a resolution on Tuesday (today) against the shifting of courts in the new judicial complex. They said the bureaucracy has its eyes on the katcheri land where they want to construct a commercial plaza.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2015.