November 07, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 25, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Nov 6: The otherwise bustling premises of the district courts and the bar association presented a deserted look for the second day on Tuesday as both the lawyers and litigants were not allowed by the police to enter the building. The city courts were put under siege following imposition of the emergency in the country on Saturday by Gen Pervez Musharraf.

A visit by this reporter to the courts revealed that not a single lawyer was present on the premises housing more than 30 different courts. The chambers of the lawyers were empty and their offices were locked as majority of their clerks were arrested.

Because of the siege, the cases were deferred and under trail prisoners once again not produced in the courts and only physical remands of the newly arrested accused were given to the police by duty magistrates who remained in the court during the official timings. Though some of the judges and their staff were present in the courts but they did not attend to their official duties.

Important cases such as suicide attack case on the president and plot to bomb Trans Atlantic flights were also adjourned till November 15 because of the absence of both the accused and their lawyers.

The scene at Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench was no different as it also remained a no-go-area for common man and was guarded heavily by the police. Only new dates were fixed in different cases.