Pakistan
Police baton-charge, arrest lawyers protesting outside LHC
A heavy contingent of police closed the main gate of the Lahore High Court building and erected barricades
Lahore: Police Wednesday raided the protest rally of lawyers outside the Lahore High Court (LHC).
Lawyers took out a protest rally from the House of Justice to the LHC on the issue of transfer of civil courts to Model Town court and cases against lawyers.
There was a clash between the police and protesting lawyers at GPO Chowk, as a result of which the police canned the protestors and fired teargas shells, the police also used water cannons to disperse the protestors.
The police also arrested the lawyers participating in the protest. The lawyers removed the barriers outside the GPO Chowk and the High Court and also pelted the police with stones as a result of which Station House Officer (SHO) Akhtar got injured.
Due to the clash between the protesting lawyers and the police, the traffic system on Mall Road has become disrupted while there is heavy traffic pressure on the surrounding roads.
On the other hand, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Lahore said that after the stone pelting by the lawyers, the police resorted to shelling. The lawyers were allowed to take out a peaceful rally, however, they tortured the police and tried to take the law into their hands which is not allowed to anyone.
Later, a series of negotiations started between the police and the lawyers, after which the police stopped the shelling of tear gas, but despite reports of the success of the negotiations, the situation could not be brought under control and the baton charge started.
The police dispersed the lawyers with water cannons and shells, after which the lawyers dispersed from the GPO Chowk, the police cleared the GPO Chowk and restored the flow of traffic, while more than 20 lawyers have been arrested by the police so far.
Chief Minister Punjab instructs IG Punjab to avoid confrontation
On the other hand, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz said in a message on the social media website that the Inspector General (IG) Punjab has been instructed to avoid using force against the lawyers, the lawyers should also settle their cases amicably with the Lahore High Court.
Maryam Nawaz further said that confrontation should be avoided for the protection of the citizens of Lahore.
Pakistan Bar Council calls for nationwide strike
The Chairman of the Lawyers Joint Action Committee, Ahsan Bhoon, stated that the Pakistan Bar Council has given a call for a strike tomorrow in the whole of Pakistan.
It is pertinent to note that the lawyers are protesting for two reasons, the first is that some of the courts in the House of Justice were transferred to the Model Town Division by the Chief Justice of LHC by issuing a notification. Therefore, so the lawyers demand that this decision be withdrawn. The other is that the First Information Reports (FIRs) against the lawyers in the case of terrorism should be withdrawn and cases should be avoided.