TAXILA: The groundbreaking of the new judicial complex will be held next month and the chief justice of Lahore High Court is expected to perform the ceremony.

This was stated by newly-elected president of Taxila Bar Association Syed Iqrar Shah at a press conference along with PML-N leader Barrister Aqeel Ahmed Malik on Tuesday.

He said it will be one of the largest complexes in the Rawalpindi district, adding: “The existing complex is built on 13 kanals while the proposed site of the new complex spreads over 182 kanals which will have courts, chambers, space for stamp vendors and a residential area for judicial officers.”

At present, due to lack of space, the judiciary conducts courts in the offices of revenue officers and there is no space for parking or a residential facility for judicial officers.

He said there was no space to establish chambers for new lawyers. Mr Shah said only ‘non-stakeholder’ lawyers and politicians were opposing the construction of a new complex and shifting of the courts there, as they are not aware of the problems being faced by the judiciary, litigants, lawyers and the public.

Responding to a question about establishment of a new complex away from the city, he said there was no state land available within the jurisdiction of the city. He said all new complexes in other parts of the province, for instance in Multan and Sohawa, were constructed outside the cities, keeping in view further expansion of cities and the growing population.

Mr Malik said such projects should be kept out of politics for the sake of citizens and litigants.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2021