RAWALPINDI:
The legal fraternity on Monday observed a complete strike in Rawalpindi, boycotting court proceedings for failure to “compensate” the demolished portions of the district court premises.
The District Bar Association accused the Rawalpindi district administration of reneging on its agreement regarding the district courts mega underpass and flyover project.
According to the Bar Association, the administration had acquired and demolished parts of the district court premises – including lawyers’ offices, bars and the court mosque – but has since failed to provide alternative land or rebuild the demolished premises as previously agreed.
In protest, lawyers went on a complete strike on Monday, boycotting all court proceedings. The Bar Council warned that if the administration did not fully implement the agreement within 48 hours, members of the legal fraternity would dismantle all barriers around Katchery Chowk, reopen the blocked routes and reclaim the acquired land by initiating reconstruction work on it.
Bar leaders alleged that the administration and other relevant authorities were attempting to pressure and marginalize the legal community, warning that such tactics would not be tolerated.
They reiterated their support for the Katchery Chowk redevelopment and redesign plan, which they described as a national development initiative, but condemned the administration for reverting to what they called its “characteristic high-handedness”.
District Bar Association president Sardar Manzar Bashir and secretary Malik Asad Mahmood declared that the administration had violated the agreed terms by sealing all major and minor access routes to the courts, reducing the main entrance from 30 feet to just 4 feet.
