In a significant development, Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has vehemently opposed the nationwide strike organized by top lawyers’ bodies, labeling it as a severe “obstruction of justice.” Sources close to the matter revealed that Justice Sattar addressed a letter to the three-judge administrative committee, highlighting the issue of barring lawyers and litigants from accessing the courts due to the strike.
The strike call was initiated in solidarity with the legal community following what was termed as disturbing incidents of Punjab police’s “brutality against lawyers” during peaceful protests against the “unlawful divisions” of civil courts in Lahore.
Both the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) declared Wednesday as a black day and called for a nationwide strike across all courts, including the Supreme Court, high courts, and subordinate judiciary.
However, amidst the strike, lawyers refrained from attending court sessions, and in some instances, actively advocated for the boycott of proceedings, leaving litigants, who had waited months for their cases to be heard, stranded without legal representation.
IHC judges were compelled to dismiss several cases due to the absence of lawyers, prompting Justice Sattar to criticize such actions as creating barriers to accessing justice in his letter to the administrative committee.
Responding to these allegations, the IHC Bar Association President, Riasat Ali Azad, defended the strike, stating that such actions were peaceful means of protesting against state high-handedness or other injustices. He emphasized that the absence of lawyers due to protests should not hinder litigants’ access to justice, as they have the option to appear in court personally or through a representative.
Meanwhile, court officials revealed that no formal complaints were lodged by lawyers or litigants regarding denied access to justice during the strike period.
The administrative committee has since requested a report from the deputy registrar of security regarding instances where lawyers’ representatives forcefully prevented litigants from attending court sessions.
As the debate over the strike’s impact on justice continues, it underscores the delicate balance between the right to protest and ensuring access to justice for all citizens.
