Tensions between the bar and the bench finally defused here on Tuesday as Chief Justice (CJ) Lahore High Court, Khawaja Muhammad Sharif sent Sessions Judge Lahore Zawwar Ahmad Sheikh on four-month leave while the judges of district judiciary withdrew their resignations and resumed work as directed by the CJ.
According to a notification issued by LHC Registrar Abdul Sattar Asghar, Sessions Judge Zawwar Sheikh sought fourth-month leave and thus, Sohail Nasir was appointed as new head of the district judiciary. Before his transfer, Nasir was working as Sessions Judge Attock. Khaliq uz Zaman, a judge of banking court Lahore, has been posted as Sessions Judge Attock.
Early, on Tuesday morning, civil judges called on CJ Khawaja Sharif and expressed their concerns over intimidating working environment in he courts. They, however, agreed to their boss's suggestion and decided to resume work. Welcoming the decision, Lahore Bar Association (LBA) said their three-month long demand has been fulfilled. Bar President Sajid Bashir said Zawwar Sheikh's transfer was their genuine demand, which had been met. However, he said, hidden hands behind the brutal torture on lawyers should also be exposed and awarded exemplary punishment.
He said now, the lawyers would be ready to accept the decision of the three-member committee formed by Chief Justice of Pakistan. He said the strike call would be withdrawn in general house meeting of LBA on Wednesday. LBA had passed a resolution in July demanding transfer of Zawwar Sheikh on the pretext of "improper attitude" and since then, they had been protesting against him. This protest intensified last week when a group of lawyers attacked the CJ's courtroom and broke door glasses.
The next day, police brutally tortured LBA lawyers that changed the whole scenario and all sympathies went to the lawyers. Judicial officers tendered their resignation and refused to start work till the return of the sessions judge. However, the CJ rejected their resignation and ordered them to resume work, which they accepted.
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