ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) led by its newly elected President Arif Chaudhry visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and agreed to form a joint committee to resolve the key issues of business and lawyers communities. Ch. Asif Tanboli, Vice President, Muhammad Arbab Alam Abbasi, Secretary General, Sajjad Afzal Cheema, former president and executive members of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association also accompanied Arif Chaudhry.
Speaking on the occasion, Arif Chaudhry said that strengthening the institutions, including judiciary, was essential to boost business and economic activities, establish rule of law and ensure good governance. He vowed that his association would work hard to achieve these goals. He said nepotism and favoritism have always damaged the economy and entailed harmful consequences for the country. He said it was the need of the hour that government should ensure rotation of judges to curb these elements from the judiciary.
He appreciated the role of ICCI for fully supporting the lawyers in their campaign for the restoration of Islamabad High Court. He said that the new bill of rented premises act, after promulgation, would resolve rent disputes of the business community as he had vetted its draft and it was a balanced law. Sajjad Afzal Cheema, former President IHCBA stressed upon the government to establish a new complex for judges and lawyers at an area of 10 to 12 acre of land as the lawyers were facing parking and other issues in the current set up of IHC.
Speaking at the occasion, Khalid Iqbal Malik, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the current set up of district courts in F-8 Markaz was not in conformity with the dignity of judges and lawyers. He said the business community and residents of the area were also facing many problems due to district courts in F-8 Markaz and stressed that IHCBA should cooperate in efforts for shifting of courts from F-8 Sector.
He said that a Joint Committee comprising representatives of ICCI, IHCBA and Islamabad District Bar Association should be formed on permanent basis to work for resolving the key issues of business and lawyers communities. He said IHCBA should support early promulgation of new rent law in Islamabad as it was a long outstanding issue of the traders. It was agreed that ICCI and IHCBA should develop close liaison to work for achieving common objectives including resolution of problems and better development of the city.
Khalid Malik Senior Vice President, Zafar Bakhtawari former President ICCI and others also spoke at the occasion.
