Chief Justice Questions Lawyer Over Arrested Colleagues During Bar Strike in Islamabad High Court
Islamabad: During the hearing of a civil case at the Islamabad High Court, the issue of a lawyers’ strike came to the forefront.
Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar inquired about the strike when Advocate Qaiser Abbas Gondal appeared in court. Gondal informed the court that the bar had called a strike today and that the Secretary of the Bar, Manzoor Jajja, was also supposed to appear but could not due to the strike. He stated that he was present for the case, but others from the bar were absent.
The Chief Justice asked the reason for the strike, to which Gondal replied that it was in protest of the arrests of certain lawyers. When asked who had been arrested, Gondal named Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. Chief Justice Dogar then questioned whether they should be considered lawyers. Gondal remained silent in response.
The Chief Justice added that if Gondal considered them to be lawyers, he could give his opinion in chambers. Due to the strike, no progress was made in the case hearing.
