No end to civil servants-lawyers controversy in sight.

PESHAWAR -- The controversy between lawyers and civil servants over the arrest of a senior legal practitioner on the order of an additional assistant commissioner continued for the ninth day on Saturday with the legal fraternity announcing the continuation of their strike in Peshawar and nearby districts for an indefinite period until the acceptance of their demands.

The government servants, under the banner of Provincial Management Services (PMS), Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) and All Employees Coordination Council, have already announced that they would continue with their symbolic strike throughout the province by wearing black armbands till June 14 without making any compromise on service delivery.

They declared that the protest would be taken to the next level if their demands were not fulfilled by June 14.

The lawyers observed strike at the Peshawar High Court principal seat at Peshawar and attached districts, with the demand that the concerned additional assistant commissioner (AAC) Aftab Ahmad and his two guards should be arrested and suspended by the government.

Legal community announces strike to continue for indefinite period

A joint meeting of PHC Bar association (PHCBA) and Peshawar District Bar association (PDBA) was held which was also attended by some members of Pakistan Bar Council and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council (KPBC).

The meeting unanimously decided that as per approval of the KPBC, the ongoing strike should continue within all the districts falling within the domain of Principal Seat of the PHC till further order.

It was decided that a joint general body meeting of PHCBA and PDBA will be again held on Jun 13.

The meeting also called upon the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) to declare strike throughout the country in the coming week.

It was further decided a high level meeting of members of PBC, KPBC, all elected presidents of district bar association in the province, all presidents of PHCBA of Peshawar and circuit benches, would be convened on May 14 here.

It was added that a provincial convention of lawyers would be shortly held and its date would be finalized in the Jun 14 meeting.

The meeting condemned the role played by the provincial government especially the cabinet as well as that of the chief secretary, with the demand from federal government to transfer the chief secretary immediately.

On the other hand, the protesting civil servants reiterated their demands.

Their charter of demands include the...