Islamabad District Bar will hold demonstration tomorrow (Monday) in front of the Parliament House and Supreme Court of Pakistan buildings to seek transfer of judges from the federal capital to other cities. "We want the judges of the subordinate judiciary serving in Islamabad for more than eight years should be transferred to other cities," Islamabad District Bar Association (IDBA) president Riasat Ali said, talking to a delegation of IHC Press Association.
He said that IDBA would take out a rally from the District Courts and walk up to the Parliament House to register a peaceful protest on January 7. Riasat emphasised that the judges of Islamabad District Courts should end strike and hear cases of urgent nature such as bail and stay related matters because the litigants are facing many problems due to the strike.
The lawyers last month detained some 20 judges in their chambers after the Capital Development Authority conducted a midnight operation to demolish some of their chambers illegally built in front of and in the surroundings of the courtrooms, parking, entrance and emergency exit. The IDB president said they would continue protest until the decision on judges' rotation issue by the government. He requested the media to give coverage to their cause.
Regarding the cases registered against the lawyers, he said, the Bar officials had discussed the matter with the district administration and the senior police. He expressed hope that matter would be resolve soon. For the last two weeks, lawyers have been protesting over the demolition of their chambers in the vicinity of District Courts.
The Special Branch of Islamabad police also expressed serious concerns due to the strike and the construction of illegal chambers within and in the surroundings of the District Courts. In its report titled 'Prevailing Situation in District Courts,' the Special Branch has pointed out that lawyers have constructed another 10 illegal chambers in the surroundings of the courtroom of District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Mumtaz. "Some chambers have also been constructed near the main entrance of the District Courts," the report said.