LAHORE, June 5: Six subordinate courts have been shifted from different places in the city to the district courts complex, where they are likely to start functioning from June 9.

Lahore Bar Association (LBA) president Mansoorur Rehman Khan Afridi told Dawn on Thursday that the City District Government had vacated rooms in the district courts building for the purpose.

He claimed that two anti-corruption courts, two drug courts, one labour court and one court for Wapda cases had been shifted.

Mr Afridi disclosed that the LBA had asked for the shifting of 10 courts including four anti-terrorism courts and six others to the district courts building, but the authorities concerned refused to shift four of the courts at the Dharampura rest house.

“The city district government has relinquished its claims to the rooms — currently being renovated — where the courts would start functioning on June 9.” He claimed that the city government had vacated the rooms on the orders of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The LBA president termed the development a great relief, saying that the shifting of scattered courts under a single roof had been a long-standing demand of lawyers. “One just can’t imagine under what conditions these courts were functioning prior to their shifting, as there were no judicial lock-ups and toilets for the hundreds of under-trial prisoners brought daily to these courts.”

The LBA had set April 30 as the deadline for fulfilment of this demand.