LAHORE: The Customs Appellate Tribunal Lahore wore a deserted look as neither appellants nor respondents could reach the court due to shortage of petrol and lawyers strike here in Lahore today.
An official here at tribunal told Customs Today that staff of the tribunal was present to perform their daily routine duties. He said that employees also have to pay over price of petrol to reach the offices. He added that Bench I and Bench II of the tribunal hear almost 20 or more cases in a day but today could not hear any of the cases as the lawyers and parties were not present. He also informed that many parties came from other cities to join the court hearings which were also in problem.
Lahore has been facing shortage of petrol for seven days that has affected every walk of life. An appellant talking to Customs Today said that petrol was considered basic necessity in the modern age. He said that lawyers and both parties of a case were also facing difficulties to attend the court hearings. He urged the government to resolve the issue regarding the shortage of petrol on war footings.
On the other hand, lawyers held a strike today to show annoyance over the sketches published by French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo. Due to the boycott lawyers did not appear in courts and other cities of Pakistan and hearing of several cases remained pending. As per information available, more than fifteen thousand cases have been postponed due to the strike.
Customs Appellant Tribunal Lahore hears the appeals of almost all Punjab Collectorates against the decision of collectors. While the appellants from Gujranwala and Sialkot districts could go either Lahore or Islamabad to lodge appeal against the decisions.
