November 01, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 19, 1428

PESHAWAR, Oct 31: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday stayed the shifting of Swabi district courts to a newly built judicial complex.

The orders were issued on a writ petition filed by Iftikhar Khan, president of the Swabi District Bar Association (SDBA).

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Shahjehan Khan Yousafzai and Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan, sought comments from the respondents, including the Swabi district nazim, district coordination officer, provincial chief and law secretaries, district and sessions judge, Swabi Development Authority, and services and works department.

Mukhtar Ahmad represented the petitioner and stated that the district courts were located in Swabi city whereas the judicial complex was constructed in Shah Mansoor Town.

Mr Ahmad said there were no facilities at the new building such as a library, bar room and chambers for lawyers.

He said that under the circumstances it would become difficult for lawyers to carry out their day-to-day business at the complex.

The counsel referred to a judgment of the apex court stating that unless proper facilities were provided to lawyers and litigants, the courts should not be shifted to the complex.