An additional and district and sessions judge Javed Iqbal Warraich was transferred to Kasur on Monday after representatives of Lahore Bar Association (LBA) had prevented him from judicial work since February 10, allegedly after he refused to pass an order sought by an LBA leader, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Several lawyers, including LBA General Secretary Chaudhary Saleem Ladhi, had appeared before Warraich on February 10 to seek a stay order in a case. The judge said he needed to issue a notice to the other side first. The LBA representatives took the judge into his retiring room and according to court staff used derogatory language against him. The court staff said they also threatened that they would not let him continue to work if the stay order was not issued. They said the judge was forced to call police.
Later, the lawyers took the case file to the District and Sessions Judge Syed Hamid Hussain Shah, who marked it to another additional district and sessions judge Abdul Sattar Langah. Langah fixed February 18, Tuesday, for hearing of preliminary arguments in the case.
Warraich had proceeded on a short leave on February 10. Court staff said Shah had tried to resolve the matter but LBA leaders remained adamant that Warraich be prevented from judicial work. Warraich was then directed to apply for leave until the matter was resolved. Later, the matter was taken to the Lahore High Court where LBA representatives sought Warraich’s transfer.
Shah told The Express Tribune the matter had been resolved as the judge had been transferred, and refused to comment further. When asked whether he had directed Warraich to go on leave until the LHC made a final decision, he denied comment.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Warraich said he was abused for doing his job according to the law. He refused to comment on the issue any further.
Ladhi denied that bar representatives had stopped the judge from doing judicial work. He also said there had been no threats. LBA President Chaudhary Ishtiaq said a lawyer appearing before Warraich was told by the judge that he would not entertain the case. The lawyer approached Ladhi who went to Warraich to resolve the matter. Ishtiaq said the judge misbehaved with the LBA representatives at this point. He said Warraich also misbehaved at a meeting at the district and sessions judge’s chamber. He said the LBA representatives were not party to the case and that the matter had been resolved the same day. Ishtiaq would not say why the judge had gone on leave.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2014.