SAHIWAL: The District Bar Association observed a complete strike and expressed concerns over environmental hazards, ecological damages and possible threats to lives and habitat, including livestock, over installation of a 1,360MW coal power plant in Qadirabad.

Dozens of local lawyers under the leadership of senior lawyer Chaudhry Asghar Saeed, Raja Munib, Rana Ejaz, Mian Muhammad Aslam, Iftikhar Ahmad Khan and Munawar Hasan proposed and moved a resolution duly seconded and signed by more than 200 local bar members.

Later, bar President Raja Javed Mahmood read out the resolution that stated: “The lawyers community has valid concerns over disastrous and environmental impact as well as human health consequences over the establishment of coal-fired power plant in Qadirabad.”

Bar Secretary-General Abid Husain Bhonana told Dawn the coal power plant would directly affect the ambient air, create environmental hazards and impact human health as well as crops and livestock in its 10km radius.

Two sources privy to the situation informed Dawn the bar president was under enormous pressure from the PML-N lawyers groups not to pass the resolution and give a strike call. But he took a bold stand and honoured those who passed the resolution.

Hakeem Muhammad Ijaz, a local PML-N leader and supporter of Punjab Minister for Zakat and Ushr Malik Nadeem Kamran -- an advocate of the coal power plant, has put up over 30 banners in and around district court premises thanking the bar for passing the resolution.

President Raja Javed told Dawn local civil society groups also supported the bar’s demand and wanted the plant set up on barren land not fertile agriculture land.

Ijaz Rasheed, a local lawyer, said the resolution was the first “solid public evidence” against the coal plant’s environmental hazards.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2014