DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Lawyers from Tank and South Waziristan districts have announced to stage a sit-in in front of the judicial complex here on Monday (today) to protest the shifting of courts from the two districts to Dera.

The move follows a month-and-a-half-long protest against the Peshawar High Court’s ‘controversial’ decision to shift district courts from Tank to Dera Ismail Khan.

The announcement was made during a meeting chaired by Pir Ghaffar Shah Advocate, President of Tank District Bar Association, on Sunday. The gathering saw a large turnout of legal professionals, including Sherpao Mehsud Advocate, President of South Waziristan District Bar Association.

Pir Ghaffar condemned the high court’s decision, terming it illegal and unconstitutional. He emphasised the lawyers’ resolve to continue their protest, highlighting that the recent transfer jeopardised the legal rights and accessibility of justice for the residents of Tank and South Waziristan.

He also pointed out that after a 47-day boycott of court proceedings, the lawyers were prepared to escalate their efforts. “We will establish a protest camp in front of the courts in Dera and remain steadfast in our decision not to appear in courts,” he declared.

The protesters argued that the high court’s decision endangered the lives of over 1.2 million residents of Tank and South Waziristan, along with the police force and numerous lawyers, all to protect the interests of six judges.

They warned that if the court didn’t reverse its decision, they would expand their protest, including a potential sit-in outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2024