LAHORE, March 24: Justice Zahid Hussain of the Lahore High Court ordered on Saturday all witnesses to submit affidavits by March 26 in proceedings of an inquiry into the alleged police torture of lawyers and journalists during a rally against the suspension of chief justice of Pakistan.

One hundred people, including lawyers and journalists, have enlisted themselves with registry of the high court for recording their testimony in the inquiry. After a suo moto notice of the incident, Supreme Court of Pakistan had appointed Justice Hussain to probe into it.

The police had volleyed teargas shells into the high court building to restrain hundreds of lawyers from taking to The Mall, where they wanted to hold a protest rally. At least 50 people, including lawyers and journalists, were reportedly injured in the incident. Besides, the police had ransacked around a dozen chambers of lawyers.

Punjab government Information Secretary Taimur Azmat Osman, Home Secretary Khusro Pervez, IG Ahmad Nasim and Lahore police chief Malik Muhammad Iqbal, besides journalists and dozens of lawyers, appeared before the inquiry judge on Saturday.

The court asked Punjab Union of Journalists president Arif Hameed about any assessment regarding the damage caused to journalists during the clashes. He told the court that the Union had held a meeting with senior Punjab government hierarchy, and the matter was in process.

The president said the journalists did not want any compensation, and, instead, would rely on the court proceedings. The court said the journalists should get the compensation.

The inquiry proceedings will resume on Monday at 10am.

SAAD RAFIQ: The Lahore High Court will take up on Monday a writ petition challenging the detention of PML-N MNA Khawaja Saad Rafiq, filed by his wife Ghazala Saad.