LAHORE, Nov 4: There were conciliatory gestures from the bench and the bar on Tuesday to ease tension in the wake of Fane Road law chambers’ demolition.

Keeping pace with the rapprochement moves initiated by some senior lawyers, the Lahore High Court Bar Association general house gave its representatives the mandate for talks with the chief justice on disputes that marred the bar-bench relationship.

At a meeting on Tuesday with Hafiz Abdur Rehman Ansari in the chair, the general house, though condemning Monday’s unruly events, demonstrated the will for renewed efforts to take measures for restoring the mutual confidence which seemed to have been shaken by the demolition of law chambers on Oct 25.

Though the Lahore High Court has already extended an invitation for talks, some office-holders appear to be in no mood for an early negotiated settlement of controversial issues, particularly the accommodation of lawyers affected by the demolition operation 10 days ago.

A press release issued by the LHCBA at the end of the day says that the office-bearers have given the mandate to hold negotiations and end the crisis, if requested to do so. Such a conditionality, according to some senior lawyers, was contrary to the mood of the general house which attached no ifs and buts for talks.

The bar resolution incorporated the demand for the release of PML-N leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari. It sought protection for Advocate Chaudhry Nazir Mohammad and his family.