LAHORE - Superior judiciary has rejected the Lahore Bar Associations demand for transfer of District and Sessions Judge Zawar Ahmad Sheikh till the recommendations of a committee formed in this regard headed by Justice Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court, The Nation has learnt. Reliable sources in the superior judiciary said that despite agreeing in principle to the demand for changing district and sessions judge, the lawyers had also been made clear that more important were the steps that should be taken to avoid such sort of incidents in future. The lawyers were told that transfer of a judge was a routine matter which could be made at any time, but the recommendations which had been sought from the committee headed by the LHC justice were more valuable as they could keep the Bar-Bench liaisons pleasant and cordial. These recommendations will also help sort out the differences through negotiations in closed doors rather than to take to streets for violent protests. If the D&SJ is shifted without evolving a strategy and taking concrete steps addressing the root-cause, there is a possibility that these incidents may happen again. The sources said that recommendations of the committee would determine the grounds on which the lawyers demand should be met besides evolving a mechanism in this regard. They further said that Chief Justice of Pakistan and LHC Chief Justice had a consensus that a formula should be devised to solve differences and conflicts between the Bar and the Bench, which would also provide basis for the shifting of the said D&SJ. On the other hand, the Lahore Bar Association is demanding immediate shifting of D&SJ Lahore Zawar Ahmad Sheikh. Meanwhile, the committee will continue to formulate its recommendations and evolve a permanent solution to the problem and the Bar will have no objection over that. The lawyers say they, after approval of the three requisitions by the Lahore Bar, will not accept any option other than the transfer of the said D&SJ. They say this shifting must be unconditional too. The lawyers are of the view that D&SJ Azizullah Khan and Civil Judge Waseem Ahmad Sheikh should be removed from the committee otherwise they would not accept recommendations of the body. The sources also said that after the committees recommendations the superior judiciary would take final decision to solve the matter. In this regard the Lahore Bar has also convened a meeting of its 18-member action committee today wherein important decisions will be taken to make the boycott of court proceedings and strikes more effective so that more pressure should be applied. Judges of the subordinate judiciary say that after formation of the committee by the Lahore High Court, the lawyers are now on back foot and defensive position and majority of them are opposing the strike call. A civil judge while talking to The Nation said on Friday that 70 per cent lawyers appeared in courts and attended the proceedings. Some of their office-bearers were also witnessed requesting judges to leave the chamber at least for a couple of minutes but the judges complying with the High Courts directions continued their routine work and discharged their duties as per routine, he added. An office-bearer of the Lahore Bar Association said although the D&SJ consented to accept his shifting but no practical step had been taken yet to resolve the issue.