MINGORA, March 30: The demand for the establishment of the Peshawar High Court circuit bench in Swat has gathered momentum, as both the district Bar Association and district government have agreed to launch a joint campaign for the purpose.

A joint convention of the lawyers and elected representatives was held here on Saturday at the Bar room, which was also attended by the district Nazim Dr Mehboob-ur-Rehman. The general secretary of the Bar Association, Aftab Alam, said that the people of Swat were being faced by a number of problems and the non-availability of the circuit bench was one of them.

He emphasized upon the elected representatives to make their efforts for the establishment of the bench and solve the problems. He also asked the lawyers to take a united stand for the purpose irrespective of their interests and differences.

The president of the Bar, Abdul Wahid Khan, said that there was no technical hindrance for the setting up of the bench, as all the resources and infrastructures were available here.

Referring to an article of the constitution he said that the establishment of the bench was the right of the people of the Malakand division. He said the successive governments were using delaying tactics in this regard.

The district Nazim in his speech revealed that at present at least 12,000 cases of the people of the division were pending in the Peshawar High Court, and the people were unable to afford the expenses. He said the people were trying to get rid of their cases by avoiding attending the courts.

He said to have already taken up the issue with the governor, NWFP, and he had assured solution to the problems. He said that the issue would also be discussed with the chief justice of the PHC and it would hopefully be solved on priority basis. On the occasion a joint resolution was also unanimously adopted for the establishment of the circuit bench.