KARACHI: In a strongly worded press conference held today at the Sindh Bar Council Office, senior Supreme Court advocate Mr. Zia Ahmed Awan, along with Sarfaraz Metlo (President, Sindh High Court Bar Association), Rehman Korai (General Secretary Karachi Bar Association), Akhtar Hussain Senior Advocate and Faheem Zia (Focal Person, Sindh Bar Council), raised serious concerns over the deteriorating conditions of Karachis courts and demanded urgent reforms from the provincial government.

The event was attended by representatives of the Sindh Bar Council, Sindh High Court Bar Association, and Karachi Bar Association, all united in their call for immediate infrastructural and administrative improvements across the judicial system in the city.

Background:

Zia Awan recently filed a constitutional petition in the Sindh High Court highlighting the alarming state of district courts in Karachi, security vulnerabilities, lack of basic facilities, and the increasing hardships faced by the public in accessing justice.

Related: Karachi Bar Association Urges Immediate Clean-Up of City Court Premises

Key Issues and Demands:

• Condition Reports by Session Judges: Reports from all five session judges reveal appalling court conditions, described as unacceptable and shared with the media.

• Restoration Budget Proposed: In response to Awans petition, the Sindh Works & Services Department has drafted a restoration budget for all five district courts, including Malir.

• Court Infrastructure: Courtrooms are described as dilapidated, unsafe, and resembling slums. Immediate repairs and refurbishment have been demanded.

• Security Risks: The City Courts security report is alarmingsurveillance cameras are non-functional, entry points are insecure, and the threat of a major incident looms large.

• Basic Facilities Lacking: Courts lack clean washrooms, drinking water, and accessibility for the elderly and disabled.

• Harassment Complaints: Women lawyers, police personnel, and litigants face harassment. There is an urgent need for separate washrooms and daycare centers.

• Family Court Conditions: Current environments are deemed inappropriate for children. A separate waiting lounge and visitation hall have been requested.

• Encroachments & Cleanliness: City Court premises are plagued by encroachments, beggars, touts, and poor sanitation, adding to public inconvenience.

• Communication Gaps: Lawyers and litigants struggle due to the absence of mobile network coverage in court premises.

• Long-Term Reform: Participants stressed the need for a central judicial complex to streamline the legal system.

Acknowledgments:

The press conference acknowledged the efforts of District & Session Judges across all five districts, the Registrar of Sindh High Court, and the SSP City Court for their constructive roles in budget proposals, administrative cooperation, and security assessments.

Way Forward:

The participants resolved to meet with Sindh Chief Minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, urging them to include these reforms in the current fiscal years budget and to ensure swift implementation.

The legal fraternity has made it clear: the state of Karachis courts is a crisis that can no longer be ignored.