Tension aggravates as Punjab Civil Judges resign en masse

Over 1,300 Civil Judges of Punjab tendered their resignation en masse as tension between the lawyers and judges simmered, Dunya News reported on Monday. The judges sent their resignations to concerned District and Session Judges to protest the mistreatment at the hands of lawyers and the unjust demand to transfer a District and Session judge Zawar Sheikh. The judges were of the view that they would stick to their principled stance like Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.Meanwhile, Punjab Bar Council said that being civil servants, the judges could not set up an association, and hence they should be sacked. Litigants are facing severe problems as thousands of cases are said to be sub judice. On the other hand, the lawyers are observing a countrywide strike against police highhandedness and to press the Lahore High Court to transfer District and Session Judge Zawwar. The strike call was given by Pakistan Bar Council.Meanwhile, refusing to accept the resignations, Lahore High Court ordered the judges to continue with their services. Justice Wajihuddin urges lawyers, judges to resolve issues amicably Justice (r) Wajihuddin, while talking to Dunya News, urged both the factions of judicial system to abide by laws and principles.He held the administration responsible for the ongoing row between the lawyers and the judiciary. He maintained that the issues should be resolved amicably. Judges cannot set up body: AK Dogar Talking on the issue, senior lawyer AK Dogar said that the judges resigned just to register their protest. Dogar said that the judges have also made an association, which is a violation of Article 17 of the Constitution. Accepting lawyers demands would set a wrong precedent, warns Justice SiddiquiJustice (r) Saeeduz Zaman Siddqui said that the resignation put the whole system at halt, which is quite a dangerous situation for the country. He called upon Chief Justice of Pakistan and CJ Lahore High Court to resolve the situation, urging the lawyers to show patience. He warned that accepting lawyers' demands regarding transfer of a district and session judge would set a wrong precedent. He called for an amicable resolution of the issue. Justice Kh Sharif should help defuse crisis: Athar Minallah Athar Minallah said that Chief Justice Lahore High Court Khawaja Sharif should claim the responsibility and try to defuse the Bar and Bench crisis.He termed the lower courts as more important than the Supreme Court for a layman always goes to the subordinate courts first for redressal of their grievances.