THE legal fraternity is bound to safeguard the sanctity of law. If it becomes violator of law itself, it leads to anarchy and chaos. The lawyers of Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Sargodha want a high court bench in each city.

Instead of pursuing the matter legally and peacefully, they have from the very onset been indulging in violence and rowdiness to achieve their goal. They have locked the judges in their rooms, locked the courtrooms, destroyed public property and caused inconvenience to their clients and public.

These unlawful activities by the lawyers for acceptance of their demands are regrettable. The matter has not yet been settled and lawyers clash with police on a daily basis.

I wonder why the ways of protesting for our demands in a civic manner has changed in our society. Twenty-seven years ago, Rawalpindi lawyers felt the need for a high court bench in their city. They sent their delegation to file their request with the chief justice of the high court.

Their demand was in public interest. They wanted to save litigants from financial burden of staying at hotels and travel expenses. They succeeded in their mission and a high court bench was established at Rawalpindi.

First, now the lawyers seem to be more focused on self-interest than on greater good. Second, from the very beginning, they have resorted to violence and force. The senior body of lawyers needs to interfere in the matter and advise the legal fraternity to show more civic behaviour in pursuing their demands.

The rowdiness and destructiveness on their part only causes inconvenience to people and erodes any sympathy for them.

Raja Shafaatullah

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2018