Poonch bar association on Tuesday welcomed the lodging of an FIR against their counterparts in Kathua who tried to block challan in Asifa rape-and-murder case yesterday.
General Secretary Poonch bar association Sajad Chouhan said that they welcome the FIR lodged against the lawyers who prevented police from filing the charge sheet against accused in Asifa rape-and-murder case yesterday.
He also dissociated from the Jammu bandh call issued by the Jammu high court bar association tomorrow.
Talking to reports in Poonch, he said: “The crime branch should continue to investigate the rape-and-murder of the minor girl.”
Advocates from Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir disassociated themselves from the bandh call issued by Jammu bar association and condemned the blocking of challan by their counterparts in Kathua in the rape-and-murder case of Asifa Bano.
Addressing a press conference at Rajouri Press Club, the lawyers associated with the bar association said they have no association with the Jammu bandh call.
They also objected to the three point agenda of Jammu bar association and said that the lawyers should contest Rassana rape-and-murder case inside the court, instead of coming on roads.
They condemned the action of Kathua lawyers who tried to prevent crime branch officials from filing a charge sheet into the rape-and-murder case of Asifa Bano yesterday.
Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has disassociated itself from Jammu bandh call issued by bar association on Wednesday over settlement of Rohingyas and Asifa rape-and-murder case.
Terming the bandh as unilateral decision of High Court Bar Association, Rakesh Gupta, president JCCI said, “The Chamber and other organizations have not been taken into confidence before announcing bandh”.
“JCCI has always considered the Bar Association of Jammu as an elderly body but we are not supporting Jammu Bandh announced by the Bar Association,” he said.
Gupta said that the chamber was first to raise Rohingya issue but now it is sub-judice in the Supreme Court.
“The union home ministry issued a direction and restricted fresh settlement of Rohingyas in Jammu and Kashmir, so there is no logic to agitate over this,” he said.
On Asifa rape-and-murder case, Gupta said, “The investigation of Crime Branch is monitored by the High Court and the charge sheet has also been filed so it is also sub-judice.”
“It is entirely up to the judiciary to see the authenticity of the charge sheet and decide the same or handover the case to CBI for further investigation,” he said. On minutes of the meeting regarding tribals, he said, “It has no constitutional validity and it is futile discuss this.”
He said that there was no logic in demonstrating over the issues for “petty political gains”.
“The bandh is not required and is being imposed on people. If Bar has some issue it should first talk with the government,” Gupta said, while appealing to the bar president to reconsider the Jammu Bandh Call.
He further said election of bar association is due for April 19 and factually code of conduct for elections should be in-force but announcing the agitation at this juncture shows it is politically motivated.
The bar president also appealed to the traders across Jammu region to open their business establishments and also requested the Bar members not to force anyone to shut shops or take law in their hands.
