Future of LHC Multan Bench under threat

The environment in law chambers and bar room was so grim. An endless discussion was underway about the future of LHC Multan Bench after giving option by LHC Chief Justice to the petitioner that he can file petition with Lahore Principal Seat or LHC Multan Bench.
Lawyers' voices were echoing that LHC Chief Justice could admit or reject any petition filed before him from any district of the province by virtue of his authority, than why he particularly endorsed an option in a writ petition.
It was an open view that reduced size of LHC Multan Bench would shock more then 8,000 lawyers from Multan, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Vehari, Rajanpur, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal and Tehsil Bar Associations of Alipur, Kotadu, Jatoi, Chowk Azam Fatehpur, Karor Laleisan, Shujabad, Kabirwala, Mian Chunnu and Chichawatni.
Veteran lawyers were of the view that such discriminatory decisions with options have been sharpening the demand for independent high court to benefit Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan divisions, Jhang, Bhakkar and Mianwali districts because one bench could not meet the districts' requirement.
In the past, lawyers' regular and recognised bodies, forums have demanded the creation of a fifth province of South Punjab to end the sense of deprivation developed among the people of this region due to the unfair distribution of development funds and share in superior and judicial services, though they provide more revenue than Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Gujrat districts.
"Giving option is one step forward to the separation of Sahiwal from LHC Multan Bench to attach with Principal Seat. It is also being manipulated to show the low pendency of cases with LHC Multan Bench to end the demand for appointment of judges by separating a district", a senior lawyer Wasim Qadir Hashmi yelled.
LHC is the oldest superior court in the country and its predecessor courts have been providing justice since 1866. Presently, LHC stand established by virtue of article 175 of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
It has principal seat at Lahore and three benches at Rawalpindi, Multan and Bahawalpur through General Zia's Presidential Order in 1981. It was stressed for provision of 50 judges in Punjab High Court to avoid from pendency of cases.
At present the pendency in LHC and subordinate benches is 70,000 cases and only 37 judges have been serving. The Hamoodur Rehman Commission report suggested that one high court judge must be appointed on each 1,000 cases. Senior lawyer Malik Irshad Rasool Labar nodded the LHC Chief Justice orders for the hearing of monetary disputes and corporate matters of over Rs 5 million only at Lahore Principal Seat as a first step of separation of district Pakpattan from LHC Multan Bench in 2004.