LAHORE: In wake of ongoing strike by the legal fraternity in the province, the Lahore High Court on Monday directed all district and sessions judges of Punjab to discharge their judicial duties without any external pressure or influence.

A four-page directive released by LHC Registrar Abdul Rashid Abid said the judges were strictly bound by the principles of law and justice and free from any external pressure or influence.

It noted that the strikes by members of the bar had been condemned and discouraged by superior courts, calling them to be against the prestige of the legal profession and negation of the constitutional rights of the litigant public.

The directive urged the judges of the district judiciary to remain committed to their roles and responsibilities by completing their work strictly in accordance with the law.

Asks lower courts to work freely, shun any external pressure

Meanwhile,the Lahore High Court, including its principal seat and regional benches in Multan, Bahawal-pur, and Rawalpindi, as well as subordinate courts, on Monday continued to function normally despite lawyers’ strike.

A statement issued by the LHC claimed that no case was adjourned at the principal seat, and almost all cases were heard in lawyers’ presence.

It said 399 cases were decided at the principal seat, 235 at Multan, 95 at Bahawalpur and 61 at Rawalpindi bench.

Similarly, over 11,000 cases were decided in the subordinate courts across Punjab.

The legal fraternity has been observing strike against police torture on lawyers outside the LHC and shifting of civil courts from Lower Mall to Model Town.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2024