ISLAMABAD: A delegation of District Bar Association Islamabad led by its President Riasat Ali Azad visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and exchanged views on the shifting of district courts from F-8 Markaz to a safe location. Raffat Farid Senior Vice President and Iftikhar Anwar Sethi Vice President ICCI were present at the occasion. Khurshid Ahmd Buttt, General Secretary, Barrister Qasim Nawaz Abbasi, cabinet members and Executive Committee of District Bar Association Islamabad were in the delegation.
Addressing the delegation, Ahmed Hassan Moughal, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that F-8 Markaz was one of the important business centers of Islamabad and the presence of district courts in F-8 was not in conformity with the dignity of honorable judges and lawyers as their lives were always at risk in a business area. He said already incidents of terrorism have occurred in F-8 Markaz in which precious lives were lost and shifting of courts from F-8 was necessary to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future.
He said the presence of district courts in F-8 Markaz was also a major cause of problems for the business community and residents of the area as it caused unnecessary rush of people and traffic issues in Sector F-8 due to which business activities were suffering. He stressed that the government should arrange early completion of under construction Islamabad High Court building in Sector G-5 so that with the shifting of IHC to G-5, district courts could be shifted to G-10 Sector. He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with DBAI in its endeavors aimed at shifting of district courts from F-8 Markaz.
Speaking at the occasion, Riast Ali Azad, President, District Bar Association Islamabad said that the groundbreaking of Islamabad High Court Building was held in November 2012 in Sector G-5 at an area of five-acre land, but after the lapse of 6 years, the building has not been completed as yet which was causing delay in shifting of district courts from F-8. He stressed that the government should release necessary funds for early completion of IHC building to pave way for the shifting of district courts to Sector G-10. He said the shifting of district courts from F-8 would also provide relief to traders and residents of the area.
He said the setting up of additional lawyers’ chambers in F-8 has become difficult as there was no more space for them and the lawyers were facing great difficulties in discharging their professional duties. He said the best solution of all such problems was to ensure early completion of IHC building in G-5 so that district courts could be shifted from F-8 to G-10. It would enable judges and lawyers to perform their duties in a safe and secure environment to provide justice to the citizens. Both bodies also agreed to work jointly for achieving the common goals of business and lawyers community and resolving key issues of the city.
