14 May 2004	Friday	23 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, May 13: Tension mounted in the sessions courts after a clash between police and lawyers who surrounded the chamber of District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Khalil Ahmad and only let him go at the behest of Lahore High Court Bar Association president Ahmad Awais.

The situation deteriorated to the extent that the chief justice of Lahore High Court had to intervene to defuse tension which originated with two lawyers, Agha Zafar Iqbal and Jameel Asghar Bhatti, picking up an altercation with a judicial magistrate, Dr Nawaz Gondal, the other day.

Lawyers at subordinate courts in the city are boycotting courts on Friday, and the Lahore Bar Association is holding a meeting to consider the situation. The two lawyers exchanged hot words with the judicial magistrate. A case was registered against them and they secured an interim bail against arrest.

When they appeared in the court of district judge for confirmation of bail, the plea was rejected. Later, the police tried to arrest them. But the attempt was foiled by other lawyers and the two lawyers fled the scene after a bit of bashing by police.

This led to lawyers' staging a demonstration on the court premises. They allegedly damaged district and sessions judge's car and virtually made him a hostage in his chamber. They chanted slogans against the judge, demanding his transfer.

When the agitation mounted, police were called in. This further infuriated lawyers and they started damaging court property. Later, on the intervention of the district judge, police were withdrawn.

Meanwhile, LHCBA president Ahmad Awais rushed to the place and tried to pacify the agitating lawyers who were in no mood to listen to Mr Awais. He tried to rescue the district judge, but failed to do so in the first attempt. It was in the second attempt that Mr Awais was able to drive away with the judge. The court gates were closed.