GUJRAT: The Lahore High Court chief justice has ordered demolition of a commercial market constructed by Gujrat District Bar Association on the land of judicial complex along Court Road.

However, the legal fraternity has been on strike for the last four days against the issuance of eviction notices [by the local administration a week ago] to the traders who have been running businesses in these shops.

Following the orders issued by the LHC registrar office (Dec 23, 2021) to demolish the encroachments at the judicial complex land, the Gujrat district and sessions judge referred the matter to the deputy commissioner for further necessary action.

Gujrat Assistant Commissioner Faisal Abbas Mangat had issued notices to the tenants, who pay rent to the DBA, to vacate the shops within a week and Wednesday was the last day of the notice period.

Gujrat DBA had rented shops and was on strike against eviction notices

The Gujrat DBA had announced a strike against the eviction and demolition orders on Friday the last and since then the lawyers have been on strike. And background efforts were made by the DBA officials to get the notices withdrawn as a bar delegation had also called on Punjab Advocate General Ahmed Awais seeking his effective role to settle the issue.

[So far] such efforts could not bear any fruit as a protest meeting of DBA was also held on Monday (Jan 24) and the strike was extended until Wednesday against the notices.

According to DBA Secretary Sherbaz Sarwar, the building had been constructed with the consent of the then district and sessions judge two years ago since a ladies bar room was a part of the construction whereas the senior judges of district judiciary were also present at the ground breaking and inauguration ceremonies.

“The order to vacate the building is not acceptable to the bar that had spent millions of rupees on it.”

He said the orders were issued without hearing the view of DBA and lawyers would observe a strike on Thursday (today) as well against what the bar termed an illegal order.

Official sources said tension mounted between the DBA, district judiciary and the local administration over the matter as the security of the district complex was the primary reason behind the issuance of eviction and demolition orders.

Meanwhile, the DBA has constituted a 24-member committee comprising former presidents and secretaries as well as two members of Punjab Bar Council to formulate the future course of action regarding the issue.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2022