DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Lawyers from Tank and South Waziristan districts staged a protest rally here on Monday against the relocation of their district courts.

The demonstration, led by Tank District Bar Association president Pir Abdul Ghaffar, South Waziristan Bar Association president Sher Pao Mehsud and senior lawyer Shah Fahad Ansari, was attended by lawyers and civil society members in large numbers.

Protesters carried banners and placards demanding the immediate return of the courts to their districts.

They decried the move as “illegal and unconstitutional” and insisted that it had disrupted people’s access to justice and burdened them with additional expenses for the journey to DI Khan.

Addressing the crowd, lawyer Pir Abdul Ghaffar emphasised that the relocation of courts to other districts was unprecedented and violated the principles of justice.

“For the last 48 days, both lawyers and citizens have faced significant challenges in pursuing legal matters,” he said.

Sherpao Mehsud said that the relocation undermines the functionality of Tank and South Waziristan judicial system, questioning the rationale behind transferring only the courts while other government departments continue to operate in these areas.

Senior lawyer Shah Fahad Ansari urged the provincial government, chief minister, and chief justice of the Peshawar High Court to intervene.

“If the courts are not returned to our region, this movement will be extended to Islamabad where we will stage a sit-in outside the Supreme Court,” he warned.

The lawyers said they court boycott would continue until their demands are met, leaving legal cases in limbo.

They also threatened to lock the DI Khan courts.

The relocation, which reportedly came over security concerns, has sparked widespread criticism, with protesters questioning its necessity in light of functioning administrative offices in Tank and South Waziristan.

The situation remains tense, with lawyers vowing to expand their protest if authorities fail to address their concerns promptly.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2024