Federal Ministry for Law and Justice has started preparing a summary to consult with Islamabad High Court chief justice on possible shifting of the court to the Red Zone to ensure foolproof security to judges and lawyers. A senior official of the law ministry told Business Recorder on Tuesday that a proposal was under consideration in the ministry to shift the IHC into the building of Federal Shariat Court and district courts in the building of IHC in G-10.
"The ministry cannot take a unilateral decision on it. A summary is being prepared to seek consultation of the chief justices of IHC, Supreme Court and Federal Shariat Court regarding shifting of the courts," he said. The official said that three floors of the Federal Shariat Court were lying vacant and the IHC could easily be adjusted in the building.
To a question regarding the lawyers' chambers, he said that there was no proposal under consideration at the moment regarding the provision of offices to lawyers. "Lawyers can set up their offices at any place," he said adding that the chambers should be located outside the red zone.
He said that the Capital Development Authority had also allocated 3.3 acres of land for the IHC at Constitution Avenue but the construction of the building had yet to begin. "It may take years to construct a separate building for the IHC as no funds have been allocated for it yet," he said.
The official said the ministry was also in touch with Islamabad District Bar Association, President Naseer Ahmed Kayani as the government wanted to secure the district courts as well. "Some important and sensitive cases are pending with the IHC for adjudication; therefore it is necessary to take cogent security measures to ensure foolproof security," he said. The proposal to shift the IHC to the Federal Shariat Court building came after a gun-and-bomb attack on the district courts on March 3 wherein 12 people including Judge Malik Rafaqat Awan were killed in the attack while around 40 were wounded.
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