Rawalpindi courts paralysed after alleged attack on civil judge

Court work at Rawalpindi’s Judicial Complex and district courts was disrupted on Tuesday as lawyers, their clerks and judicial staff held separate protests over an alleged attack on Civil Judge Malik Ali Miran inside his chamber, The Express Tribune reported.

What the FIR alleges

A case was registered against seven lawyers, including Aslam Khan Niazi, on the complaint of the judge’s reader, Tahir Abbas Shah. It includes charges of terrorism, assault and attempted murder. No lawyer has been arrested, and the FIR has been sealed.

The alleged attack took place during court hours. According to the complainant:

• During court hours, Aslam Niazi and Muhammad Farooq Aslam tried to enter the judge’s chamber with other lawyers.
• When they were stopped, they allegedly used abusive language, scuffled with staff and forced their way in.
• Niazi allegedly abused the judge and loudly asked why an application against him had been accepted.
• The judge replied that he had decided the application according to the law and that an appeal could be filed.
• Niazi then allegedly threatened the judge and struck him on the head with a glass, hitting him above the left eye.

Courts grind to a halt

On the call of the District Bar Association, lawyers observed a complete strike and boycotted proceedings. Judicial staff also stopped work.

Judges did not comment publicly but reportedly observed an unofficial strike, staying in their chambers instead of hearing cases. On their instructions, court staff wore black armbands and held a rally inside the Judicial Complex, chanting slogans against “terrorism and hooliganism”.

Lawyers’ clerks and assistants held their own rally, protesting against what they called intimidation and a false case. The Bar Clerks Association backed the lawyers, called the terrorism case retaliatory and fabricated, demanded the FIR be withdrawn and warned of daily protests if it was not.

Because of the protests, extra police were deployed at the Judicial Complex and the old district courts to prevent any clash between the two sides. Visitors were let in only after strict checks.

Court staff went back to the courtrooms after 1pm and the filing of new cases resumed. But most of the morning’s hearings had already been adjourned, with new dates given to litigants. The courts were largely empty of visitors after 9.30am.

“A red line for the bar”

District Bar Association President Malik Sajid Mahmood and Secretary Qamarul Haq Niazi warned that arresting any lawyer would have serious consequences, calling it “a red line for the bar”.

They said lawyers were ready to resolve the matter through dialogue but would not be blackmailed, and called on judges to “correct their conduct”.

Talks between bar and bench

The authorities at the Lahore High Court took notice of the incident. In high-level consultations between the bar and the bench, it was decided that the matter would be resolved through dialogue.

For litigants, the cost was another lost day in court. Hearings scheduled for Tuesday morning will now have to wait for the new dates they were given.