SARGODHA, Feb 20: Taking their cue from their Faisalabad colleagues, local lawyers too announced on Wednesday they would lock down all courts and important government offices in Sargodha, Mianwali, Bhakkar and Khushab districts on Thursday (today) to press for the establishment of a high court bench here.

Announcing the decision at a divisional convention of lawyers, Sargodha District Bar Association President Syed Tayyab Sherazi said no court or government office including revenue, police and income tax, would be allowed to function in the four districts of the division.

He said no lawyer would negotiate with any government functionary on the issue, and the chief minister would have to come here to announce establishment of a high court bench.

He said the lawyers could not be tamed through threats of registration of cases under Anti-Terrorism Act.

The convention was also addressed by Khushab DBA president Dildar Khan Baloch, Bhakkar DBA head Malik Ghulam Fareed and other lawyers leaders.

On the occasion, committees were constituted by the bar associations of the division for compliance of the decision taken at the convention.

It was also decided if the situation demanded the lawyers would even court arrest for their cause.