LHC starts building bombproof wall

* LHCBA body, LHC building committee discuss demolition issue

By Abid Butt

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has started building a bombproof wall around the main building.

The wall is being built two to three feet from the main building. It will consist of a two-foot concrete base with a three-and-a-half-foot iron fence over it. An LHC source told Daily Times that the wall would also keep vehicles parked inside the LHC premises at a distance from the main building. “This will prevent a vehicle loaded with explosives colliding with the building.”

The source said that the decision had been made after recent incidents of terrorism in the country. LHC Chief Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry has already taken several steps to beef up security. Security guards have been increased and video cameras have been installed in the building and entry gates have also been repaired.

Fences and iron doors have been installed at entrances to the main building, which are closed after court timings.

The LHC staff has also been trained to fight fire and terrorist acts. The Lahore High Court Bar Association has also issued bar tokens for the vehicles of its members to get in court premises. In a recent press conference, LHC Registrar Dost Muhammad Malik said that 150 smoke detectors, 28 manual points and 24 alarms had been installed to tighten security and minimise the risks of fire incidents.

Unfortunately, despite all these measures, fire has broken in LHC record rooms three times in the last few months. Another fire broke out on December 21 last year and burnt an antique door of the chief justice’s courtroom.

LHCBA body, LHC building committee discuss demolition issue: The Lahore High Court Bar Association committee met the LHC building committee on Tuesday and hoped that the issue of demolition of the west wing of the LHC building would soon be resolved amicably.

The LHCBA had formed a body, consisting of President Ahmed Awais, Secretary Azam Nazir Tarar and former presidents, to negotiate the demolition issue with LHC authorities.

The LHCBA committee called on the LHC building committee of Justices Mian Najamuz Zaman and Mian Saqib Nisar. Justice Zaman was put on the committee after its member Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa went abroad on Sunday.

The LHCBA officials said the LHC building committee members also expressed concern and strong attachment with the building. The judges were equally emotional and wanted to retain the structure of the building, said LHCBA officials while hopping no more damage is done to the building.

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