ISLAMABAD, April 19: The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Tuesday threatened to stage a long march from Islamabad to Lahore if the Lahore High Court chief justice was not elevated to the Supreme Court and district and sessions judge, Rawalpindi, was not transferred immediately.

Talking to reporters at the Supreme Court building here, the LHCBA president, Justice (retd) Fakharun Nisa Khokhar, said the ongoing protest of lawyers would continue till acceptance of their legitimate demands.

She alleged that a senior judicial official from Punjab had been promoted out of turn, while the district and sessions judge, Rawalpindi, was hostile towards the lawyers.

She claimed that Chief Justice of Pakistan Nazim Hussain Siddiqui had recommended the name of the Lahore High Court chief justice for elevation to the Supreme Court, but his suggestion was taken for granted and he was not even told about the reasons for not entertaining his recommendation.

“It is unfortunate that there is no justice even in the ranks of the judiciary, as principle of seniority is being violated and out-of-turn promotions are being practised,” Justice (retd) Fakharun Nisa said.

“The judicial system is degrading and dispensation of justice is retrogressing. We also have no idea as to how to revamp the judicial system. Usually, lawyers are the protectors of judges, but in our country the gulf between the bar and the bench is widening to the cost of the litigants,” she said, adding, “Good governance could not be ensured without a harmonious liaison between the judges and the lawyers”.

She reiterated the lawyers demand of allotting eight kanals of land in favour of the Lahore bar to compensate those lawyers whose chambers were demolished recently. She also announced construction of a welfare hospital for the lawyers by the LHCBA on self-reliance basis.

Referring to the Rawalpindi district and sessions judge, she alleged that he was still in his office despite the fact that he had been sent on forced leave.