Lawyer bodies stand by IHC decision on UTPs.

ISLAMABAD -- The legal community has expressed serious concern over 'prompt fixing' of a petition against the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) last week order to release 408 under trial prisoners (UTPs) from Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail in the wake of novel coronavirus outbreak.

A five-judge larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed is going to take up on Monday the petition seeking suspension of the IHC order for release of the UTPs.

The IHC on March 21 ordered release of the UTPs detained in Adiala jail in minor crimes and directed the Islamabad police not to make arrest in petty matters. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued the order while taking up a petition based on a report of the IHC judicial branch on Islamabad-based UTPs.

A lawyer, Raja Muhammad Nadeem, however, moved the apex court against the order on Friday. Interestingly, soon after submission of the petition, CJ Gulzar Ahmed formed a five-judge larger bench - headed by him - to hear the plea on March 30 (Monday).

The legal fraternity, however, took exception to 'prompt fixing' of the petition and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) issued a joint statement fully appreciating and supporting the IHC order.

The statement said the IHC order was passed in peculiar circumstances in the wake of the outbreak of deadly COVID- 19, 'just on humanitarian and compassionate grounds only in cases of the UTPs.

It expressed the hope that the other superior courts 'may also take/pass similar decisions/orders on humanitarian grounds that being the demand of the grave situation confronting Pakistan.'

It said the rapid spread of coronavirus the world over and in Pakistan needs concerted efforts and practical contributions on war footing by all concerned including the courts, to combat the disease.

'Both elected heads of both the apex bar bodies, therefore, have expressed their earnest hope that the SC ... will kindly keep in view the hardships of and threats of COVID-19 to UTPs in overcrowded jails...and its decision... will promote the object of protection of human rights especially of the UTP,' it said.

PBC Vice Chairman Abid Saqi and SCBA President Qalb-i-Hassan have also announced to personally appear before the larger bench. They will strongly oppose the...