ISLAMABAD: Landowners in F-8 are seeking the execution of an order for evicting the lower courts from private and commercial premises.

In a written order passed on a petition seeking the establishment of model courts in the federal capital, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed that courts in the federal capital “were established in privately owned commercial buildings in commercial areas since three decades. What can be more ironic that the landlords of these rented buildings are filing eviction petitions in the same courts and most of [the] petitions were allowed. Execution petitions are also pending before the same [courts].”

The petition was filed by senior lawyer Chaudhry Mohammad Akram.

In response to an earlier order, Chief Commissioner Islamabad Amir Ahmed Ali, Inspector General Police (IGP) Aamir Zulfiqar and representatives of local lawyers were also in attendance.

After hearing contentions of city managers, the court termed the state of affairs in the district judiciary “deplorable”.

The IHC chief justice remarked that it appeared the justice system was not a priority for successive governments and that the real stakeholders are at the receiving end.

The court directed the district administration to prepare a proposal for the establishment of purpose-built district courts and to submit it before the federal cabinet in two weeks.

Justice Minallah directed the IGP to ensure proper security for the district courts.

Further hearing in the case has been adjourned till March 12.

The lower courts have been operating in makeshift arrangements because they were not taken into account when the city was being planned.

In 2005, the government had planned to move the lower courts into a newly constructed district courts complex but the plan was deferred after the Oct 2005 earthquake.

IHC was established two years later in the district courts complex as there was no building for the high court.

Lawyers have encroached on greenbelts, pavements, open spaces in and around the district courts and have even occupied a football ground.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2019