Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The legal fraternity of Islamabad is pursuing a dual policy based on hypocrisy. Instead of vacating the encroached land of Edhi Ambulance Centre at F-8 Markaz, they are observing a mourning day and offering funeral prayers in absentia, following the demise of Abdul Sattar Edhi.

According to details and documents available with Daily Times, the lawyers of Islamabad Bar Association encroached the land reserved for Edhi Ambulance Centre at Markaz of Sector F-8.

The map of the aforementioned sector clearly indicates that a small piece of land was allocated for Edhi Ambulance Centre at the Markaz, which is situated between the existing Pakistan State’s oil filling station and the Pakistan Post Office building. The said piece of land was allocated to the Edhi Foundation for the construction of an office and parking for their ambulances, but in 2009, the lawyers of the Islamabad District Bar Association encroached the said land forcefully and constructed their offices. Sources inside the District Municipal Administration (DMA) briefed that the lawyer’s chambers were constructed at the site forcefully and when the Edhi officials reached the spot then the lawyers misbehaved with them and warned of serious consequences.

Edhi officials said that their chief, Abdul Sattar Edhi at that time asked them to avoid taking any step which could create a law and order situation and directed them to leave the matter to God and the Day of Judgment.

“The encroachment of Edhi Foundation’s land by lawyers reveals the dual face of the community as they are observing a mourning day and offering funeral prayers in absentia for Abdul Sattar Edhi, while they encroached upon the land which belongs to this great humanitarian,” a senior lawyer commented on the condition of anonymity.

The President Islamabad District Bar Association Syed Tayib Shah responded on the issue and said; “We established the chambers on temporary basis and we will shift them after the construction of an alternative building in G-10.”

When pressed on the dual treatment of the Edhi Foundation by the Islamabad Bar Association, the President Bar said that the matter was not in his knowledge, adding that they could resolve it through negotiations as they had great respect for Mr. Edhi.

Although, he offered positive cooperation for the release of the encroached land, but avoided to condemn the unfortunate act of his fellows.

The traders condemned the behaviour of the lawyers and said; “It is unfortunate that the custodians of law have become law violators.”

When contacted, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Enforcement Wing the officials on the condition of anonymity said their department did not have the courage to take action against the powerful lawyers’ community.

Hundreds of lawyers’ chambers are already present in the Markaz or in the vicinity of the district courts and their number is increasing each day especially after the shifting of the chief commissioner’s and deputy commissioner’s offices from F-8 to G-10 sector. An officer of the CDA said; “The lawyers did not leave anyone and constructed their illegal structures on greenbelts, grounds, state land, right out of the way and even on a welfare organisation’s land.” He said further; “They should leave the encroached land instead of paying tribute to the Mr. Edhi as the real tribute is the sustainability of his work.” The zonal head of the Edhi Foundation Islamabad Bilal Dar confirmed that the lawyers had encroached the foundation’s land, but refused to comment on the issue as he was out of town and not fully prepared about the case. Although, the boycott of courts on the natural death of Abdul Sattar Edhi is itself questionable, but the community should force its companions to vacate the encroached land.