Imagine a city project meant to improve traffic flow, but instead, it brings chaos and frustration to an entire legal community. That's exactly what's happening in Rawalpindi, where the Kacheri Chowk widening project has lawyers up in arms. The District Bar Association Rawalpindi has issued a bold ultimatum: if the administration doesn't address their concerns within two days, lawyers will take matters into their own hands and reopen closed routes on November 10.
But here's where it gets complicated. The association claims they've been cooperative from the start, closely monitoring the project and working with district authorities. They even marked and handed over their own land for construction, including the demolition of the old Hamza Block, a mosque, and adjoining chambers. And this is the part most people miss: the bar is now rebuilding the mosque on their own, and affected lawyers are reconstructing their chambers at their own expense.
The controversy arises from the administration's alleged failure to plan alternative routes and parking facilities, causing significant inconvenience to lawyers, judicial staff, and litigants. The association demands immediate action: allocation of substitute land, construction of the promised parking plaza, and compensation for destroyed property. They warn that any coercive action by the administration will be met with resistance, holding authorities accountable for any potential confrontation.
As the project moves forward, the City Traffic Police has rerouted traffic, directing commuters from Rawat via Jhelum Road towards the Old Airport through Bahria Phase 1 and High Court Road. Those traveling from Jhelum Road to Peshawar Road and the New Airport are advised to take Morgah Turn and other alternative routes. But the question remains: Is this project truly benefiting the city, or is it causing more harm than good? What do you think? Should the administration prioritize the needs of the legal community, or is the greater good of improved traffic flow worth the temporary inconvenience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
