LARKANA: Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh of the Sindh High Court Saturday visited office of the Larkana District Bar Association along with several other judges. He was welcomed by the bar’s president, Akbar Dahar, and other office-bearers.

Besides discussing matters relating to bench and bar at tea, Mr Dahar briefed CJ Shaikh about the problems being faced by lawyers in the district. He also sought the CJ’s help in getting the bar’s building renovated, pointing out that its roof was crumbling.

The chief justice held out the assurance that he would do whatever was possible to meet the lawyers’ demands, according to Mr Dahar. The bar presented traditional gifts of Ajrak and Sindhi cap to the CJ.

While the chief justice was visiting sessions court, Parveen Soomro, a teacher cried before him showing papers of her lingering case and some photographs. She urged him to help in getting justice.

The CJ, who was accompanying Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi, heard the woman’s grievance and assured her of justice.

On Friday evening, Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh attended a reception hosted for him by the Larkana bar on the lawns of the high court building.

Speaking to the audience, CJ Shaikh described the Larkana bar building as his home and identity. Pointing towards lawyers, he said: “I am from among you ... still I feel great to be a former member of this bar ... I am here with this position [CJ] thanks to the contribution of this bar”.

The chief justice said that the Larkana bar had played great role in providing an opportunity to him. “Had it [the bar] not been here, I would not have been elevated,” he said.

“After long time I am here,” he added.

CJ Shaikh said he was happy to hear from the High Court Bar Association, Larkana president Ashique Dhamraho about the lawyers’ collective demands at a meeting. Referring to the demands, the chief justice said that the scheme of the construction of court buildings in Dokri would be revised. He noted that at present only two judicial magistrates were sitting there. The revised scheme would provide accommodation for three courts so that senior civil judge and additional sessions judge could also sit there, he said.

He also noted that the pace of work on the judicial complex buildings in Shahdadkot and Ratodero was slow. He said he had asked the chief engineer to expedite the work.

The chief justice told the audience that the lift at the high court building in Larkana would be made operational next month and the car parking space would also be extended.

Regarding extension in the high court bar’s library, he said it was his priority. He pointed out that books had already been provided to it, besides the district bar’s library. Some books currently not available in the market would be made available to the library, he added.

Earlier, Ashique Dhamraho in his welcome speech called for an additional judge to be appointed for the Sindh High Court, Larkana circuit, and establishment of a services tribunal in the city. He also urged the chief justice to consider establishment of an accountability court along with provision of an office of the member board of revenue. “We have to travel to Hyderabad for litigation in revenue matters,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2021