LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Bar Association has issued a stern warning to the Punjab government, giving a 15-day deadline for the release of overdue funds. Failure to do so, the bar has threatened to mobilize its members to surround the Punjab Assembly and the Chief Minister’s Office in protest.
Lahore High Court Bar President Babar Murtaza Khan revealed that the association’s staff have been unpaid for the last four months due to the persistent lack of funds. He emphasized that the legal community refuses to remain dependent on or subordinate to government authorities, asserting that the release of funds is a constitutional right.
Khan strongly cautioned that if the provincial authorities do not resolve the financial issues within the specified timeframe, the bar will initiate a mass protest and march towards key government buildings, including the Punjab Assembly and the Chief Minister’s Office.
The association also voiced serious concerns over the dwindling number of judges and the scarcity of benches, which has severely hampered judicial proceedings in several courts. Khan explained that this situation has led to significant delays in case hearings and has brought operations at the Lahore High Court’s benches in Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, and Multan to a near halt.
He called for an immediate increase in the sanctioned judge strength across the Supreme Court and high courts to address the backlog, ease the burden on the judicial system, and ensure swift justice delivery.
Furthermore, the bar passed a resolution to cut the summer vacation for the judiciary from two months to just one, citing that the prolonged break exacerbates delays and hampers the progress of pending cases. Khan urged authorities to ensure the regular presence of judges and benches in regional courts to prevent further frustration among litigants.
The Lahore High Court Bar also demanded the formation of a special judicial commission to investigate and document alleged human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir. The association emphasized that the findings should be presented internationally to draw global attention and establish a formal record of violations in the disputed region.
In addition, the bar approved a proposal to double its membership fees from Rs6,000 to Rs12,000, effective August 15, to meet rising operational costs amid ongoing financial shortages.
The leadership appealed to the Punjab government to urgently resolve the funding crisis, clear outstanding salaries, and enable the association to continue serving its members effectively.
