Access to justice: District bars to go on strike over LHC benches

Faisalabad Bar Association president Mian Javaid Iqbal said on Saturday some elements in the Lahore High Court Bar Association were opposing the Punjab cabinet’s decision for setting up high court benches at divisional level.

He criticised a statement by LHC Bar Association president Abid Saqi regarding the establishment of benches. He said the decision to call a strike was taken during a meeting of the bar association’ presidents. He said an Inter Divisional Lawyers’ Convention would be held on March 21.

He said a joint action committee, headed by Faisalabad bar president, had been formed. Iqbal said the joint action committee would call on the president, the governor and the Lahore High Court chief justice.

He said the committee would also try to move resolutions supporting the establishment of LHC benches at divisional level at the general house meeting of the Punjab Bar Council.

He said, “Establishment of divisional LHC benches is a constitutional right of the people of the province.”

He demanded that the Punjab governor approve the cabinet summary for new LHC benches.

The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) had on Wednesday rejected the government’s decision to establish five new territorial benches of the Lahore High Court, calling it ‘a move to dent lawyers’ unity.’

They had requested the LHC chief justice to abstain from giving any recommendations to the government on the issue.

LHCBA President Abid Saqi had said that on March 4, the government had formed a five-member committee consisting of former bar presidents to consult stakeholders on new territorial benches and give its recommendations to the LHCBA. He said while the committee was still deliberating, the Punjab cabinet had dropped a bombshell by announcing five new LHC benches.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2013.