Lawyers decry inadequate COVID-19 safety measures at courts

The legal fraternity on Thursday decried what they called inadequate coronavirus safety measures at the courts in Sindh and demanded of the provincial government to take notice of the alarming situation.

Addressing a press conference at the city courts, Karachi Bar Association president Munir Ahmed Malik said that so far eight COVID-19 positive cases had emerged from the courts and they might spread the virus if the provincial government had not taken preventive measures.

He said the KBA used to receive an annual grant from the provincial government; however, it did not receive it this year due to which the lawyers had been facing a difficult situation. He said the government had not paid any heed to repeated requests for the grant.

Malik asked the government to focus on the situation in the courts and demanded funds for the bar. He said that due to the government's inattention, the lawyers were forced to hold a press conference, and if their demands were not meet, they would follow a strict course of action.

KBA general secretary GM Korai said that the government had employed a "step-child attitude" towards the bar and did not entertain any request made to them in the recent past over the prevalent situation.

Korai said that it was the responsibility of the government to create a safe environment at the courts, which had been functioning even during the lockdown. He said that already in Punjab, all of bar associations had received their funds but here the situation was otherwise.

A day earlier, the issue of preventive measures against the novel coronavirus was also discussed at the Sindh High Court (SHC) as the registrar informed the high court that only three thermal guns had been provided to the SHC against the requirement of at least five and even some of them were not working.

The registrar submitted that no such arrangements had been made at the City Courts where advocates and litigants were continuously attending the courts.