HYDERABAD: Lawyers have decided toappearbeforejudicialinquiryordered by Sindh Home department on the request of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh last month in the wake of lawyers` agitation against Hyderabad senior superintendent of police (SSP) Dr Farrukh Ali, a close relative of Sindh home minister.

Hyderabad District Bar Association (HDBA) has received names of five lawyers, who want to appear before judicial officer a sessions judge of Hyderabad to voluntarily record their statements about the events of Feb 3 and 4 leading up to SSP-lawyers tiff.

The SSP has also submitted a list of witnesses who will record their statements before the inquiry officer. `We have submitted a list today of around 25 personnel who will be deposing before the judge,` the SSP told Dawn.

The ongoing strike by lawyers aimed at getting the SSP transferred would continue on Tuesday but the HDBA was likely to allow litigants to file cases and seek different legal remedies in their cases.

The judicial inquiry was ordered onFeb 22 by Sindh Home Department on IGP`s request after the SSP was allowed to proceed on leave on Feb 4 amid the lawyers` agitation.

The inquiry is to be completed within 30 days of which 10 have already passed.

The inquiry officer is required `to ascertain facts leading to the incident along with fixing responsibility; suggest recommendations for formulation of framework/mechanism to prevent such situationsin thefuture and tofoster a professional and cooperative relationship between police and legal fraternity to avoid undue confrontation`.

HDBA president Ashar Majeed Khokhar said that he and the HDBA general secretary Babar Rasool Memon met acting Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Mohammad Junaid Ghaffar regarding HDBA`s issue with Hyderabad SSP, who rejoined office after availing a week`s leave in the wake of lawyers` agitation. It was the second meeting within a week`s time.

`The five lawyers who have volunteered to record their statement before the judicial officer include two members of managing committee and a female lawyer,` said HDBA general secretary Babar Rasool Memon.About Monday`s meeting with acting CJ, he informed that CJ also advised them to join judicial proceedings. `Litigants are indeed suffering. In the bar meeting we are most likely to decide to allow institution of fresh cases,` he said.

The lawyers had started the agitation after registration of FIR on Feb 3 against one of their colleagues from Tando Allahyar for having tinted glasses and fancy number plate in his car.

On Feb 4, the protesting lawyers barged into the SSP office, demanding suspension of SHO of Bhitai Nagar police station but the officer refused to bow to the lawyers.

`We will have HDBA`s meeting today [Monday night] to decide that litigants at least should be allowed to enter court premises to institute fresh cases for legal remedies. Poor litigants have been in trouble since this strike has started, Ashar told Dawn on Monday evening following his meeting with acting CJ SHC.

`We intend to file a petition against the SSP as he is not fit for holding this position,` insisted newly-elected HDBA president.

Ashar explained the SSP`s conduct could in no way be termed `professional`.

`The way he resumed his duties showedas if he had conquered something. He entered the office wearing a turban, which is quite unprofessional and against the government rules for a public servant,` he said.

After the SSP refused to suspend SHO Bhitai Nagar, the lawyers belonging to HDBA and High Court Bar Association (HCBA), blocked a section of Hyderabad bypass on Feb 6.

The blockade followed Hyderabad DIG Tariq Dharejo`s refusal to visit the bar along with the SSP`s `transfer order` as was promised by him on Feb 4-5 midnight to persuade the lawyers to end the protest inside SSP office Hyderabad.

The blockade of Hyderabad bypass led by Ayaz Tunio, K.B. Leghari, Faisal Mughal, Ashar Khokhar and Babar Memon ended on Feb 7 when SSP Dr Farrukh proceeded on leave only to resume his duties after a week on Feb 15, forcing lawyers to resume their protest on Feb 20, which was still continuing.

The lawyers have intensified the strike since Feb 20 during which they do not allow policemen and litigants to enter courts` premises. The main doors of district and civil courts remain closed with a camp set up in front of its main entrance.