Talks held over lawyers-LHC judge issue

LAHORE: Deadlock between Lahore High Court (LHC) and the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) over the issue of a female judge’s alleged bad behavior with bar president persisted as first round of talks between both sides ended inconclusively.
LHC Chief Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik and bar leaders held a long meeting but failed to break the deadlock as both sides remained stuck to their stance.The bar boycotted the court of Justice Erum Sajjad Gull, however, the judge did not come to the court either. Litigants were present in the courtroom of Justice Gull as cause list of the day was also affixed outside the courtroom.
A group of lawyers visited the courtroom of the female judge and asked the litigants to leave the place. They also removed the cause list from outside the courtroom. Later the staff pasted a note on the courtroom door that the judge was on leave.
Later a delegation of senior lawyers comprising Pakistan Bar Council vice chairman Azam Nazir Tarar, its chairman executive committee Ahsan Bhoon, LHCBA president Pir Masood Chishti, Punjab Bar Council member Ghulam Abbas Naswana and others held an hour-long meeting with the chief justice.
Tarar said the meeting was held in a pleasant atmosphere, however, ended without a breakthrough. He said the meeting was not a total failure but a one step towards smooth resolution of the dispute. He said the lawyers would boycott the female judge if she continued to hold judicial work at Lahore. Second round of talks would likely be held on Friday.