RAWALPINDI:
The legal fraternity observed a complete strike in Rawalpindi on Monday and boycotted court proceedings for not “compensating” against the demolished parts of the district court premises.
The District Bar Association accused the Rawalpindi district administration of reneging on its agreement regarding the District Courts Underpass and Overhead Bridge mega project.
According to the Advocate, the administration had acquired and demolished parts of the District Court’s premises – including lawyers’ chambers, bar shops and the court mosque – but has since failed to provide alternative land or reconstruct the demolished facilities as previously agreed.
In protest, lawyers observed a complete strike on Monday and boycotted all court proceedings. The lawyer warned that if the administration fails to fully comply with the agreement within 48 hours, members of the legal fraternity would dismantle all barriers around Katchery Chowk, reopen the blocked routes themselves and reclaim the acquired land by starting reconstruction work on it.
Bar leaders argued that the administration and other relevant authorities were trying to pressure and marginalize the legal community and warned that such tactics would not be tolerated.
They reiterated their support for the Katchery Chowk redevelopment and redesign scheme – which they described as a national development initiative – but condemned the administration for returning to what they called its “characteristic superiority”.
District Attorney Sardar Manzar Bashir and Secretary Malik Asad Mahmood stated that the administration had violated the agreed terms by blocking all major and minor access roads to the courts, reducing the main entrance from 30 feet to just 4 feet.
