LAHORE – City lawyers, including senior Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) members, bugged by the cricketing fever of the Indo-Pak semi final on Wednesday, did not appear in the courts only to stay glued to their plasma TV screens and got general adjournments of their cases.
According to sources, lawyers sent their assistants and secretaries to the chambers of judges of the LHC with verbal as well as written requests that they want to watch the cricket match and could not appear in the court so adjournment may be given in view of the national passion for the day. Sources told Pakistan Today that LHC judges also did not mind the lawyers’ absence from the courts and allowed requests for adjournments in the cases.
Working hours for lawyers and court officials were reduced to 1pm instead of 3:30pm so that they could also watch the match along with the rest of the nation. Everybody on the courts premises seemed to be waiting for the clock to strike 2pm when the semi final match was to start between the two powers of the region pushing the cricket fever to its aching climax.
A large number of lawyers of LHC had gathered at the Karachi Shudha Hall and other halls of the bar much before the start of the match and very good arrangements had been made by the bar for its members to watch the match on plasma TV screens (projectors). Sources said that many of the senior lawyers who had not come to the bar to watch the match made arrangements of big plasma TVs or projector screens in their offices and chambers.
In chambers of lawyers, all arrangements were made including lavish snacks and meals while lawyers also discussed the cricket diplomacy between the two nations. Azhar Siddique, a senior member of the LHCBA told Pakistan Today that he is sitting in front of a projector TV screen in his chamber located in front of the LHC along with his colleagues and some guests from other cities who have come to enjoy the match. Azhar said that until 7pm, his guests have eaten ice cream, kheer, cold drinks and snacks and about 20 lawyers have gathered in his office.
