KASUR, March 27 The Punjab Bar Council has issued a show-cause notice to the District Bar Association secretary general for supporting the judiciary in the ongoing bar-bench row.

The district courts remained closed on Saturday as the judges stayed away from work (on protest leave) against the lawyers.

DBA Secretary-General Advocate Tanvir Asghar-led group of lawyers met the district and sessions judge to show solidarity with him while the other group (led by DBA President Abdul Rehman Tabassum) moved the PbBC to strengthen its cause of opposing the judiciary.

PbBC member Qurban Ali Dogar, who had remained DBA president for three consecutive terms, told Dawn on phone that a delegation of lawyers supporting the bar president's stance met the provincial bar council which issued a show-cause notice to the 'rebel' group.

He said Advocate Tanvir was no more the secretary general of the bar and DBA joint secretary Chaudhry Shabbir Ahmad would work in his place. Advocate Tanvir's membership would also be cancelled, he added.

The DBA president said a resolution demanding transfer of D&SJ Javed Rasheed Mahboobi out of the district had been presented. He said his group was firm on its stand and enjoyed support of the majority of the bar members. He said he would soon prove this claim before the media.

He said a delegation of lawyers would see Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif to give proof of the D&SJ's 'wrongdoings'.

The other group at its meeting at district courts pledged to take its fight to the logical end. It also submitted a report to the LHC chief justice to explain its position and described the charges against the judge as frivolous and unjust.

Advocate Tanvir, who came up with the claim of majority support, challenged the bar president's issuance of a press brief which, he said, was the prerogative of the secretary general alone. He said cancellation of his membership was simply out of question.

Led by Advocate Tanvir Asghar and DBA former secretary-general Liaquat Ali Dogar, a delegation of lawyers also met the chief justice.