RAWALPINDI:
The legal community on Monday observed a total strike in Rawalpindi, boycotting court proceedings over non-compensation of demolished portions of district court premises.
The District Bar Association has accused the Rawalpindi district administration of reneging on its agreement regarding the district courts underpass and flyover mega project.
According to the Bar, the administration had acquired and demolished part of the district court premises – including law offices, bars and the court mosque – but has since failed to provide alternative land or rebuild the demolished facilities as previously agreed.
As a sign of protest, lawyers observed a total strike on Monday, boycotting all legal proceedings. The bar association warned that if the administration failed to fully honor the agreement within 48 hours, members of the legal fraternity would dismantle all barriers around Katchery Chowk, reopen the blocked roads themselves and reclaim the acquired land by starting reconstruction work there.
Bar leaders say the administration and other relevant authorities are trying to pressure and marginalize the legal community, warning that such tactics will not be tolerated.
They reiterated their support for the Katchery Chowk renovation and redesign project – which they described as a national development initiative – but condemned the administration for returning to what they called its “characteristic authoritarianism”.
District Bar President Sardar Manzar Bashir and secretary Malik Asad Mahmood said the administration had violated the agreed terms by closing all major and minor access routes to the courts, thereby reducing the main entrance from 30 feet to just 4 feet.
