LAHORE, July 20: A group of lawyers on Wednesday allegedly misbehaved in a sessions court during hearing a case involving an advocate.

The incident took place after a sessions judge granted interim bail to three policemen in a custody case in which lawyer Muhammad Rauf was a complainant. The three policemen were real brothers.

Such incidents have been on the increase in recent years.

According to witnesses, complainant-lawyer Muhammad Rauf and his fellow bar members later gave a sound thrashing to three accused, who are also cousins of the complainant-lawyer, and handed them over to the Islampura police, alleging they had tried to kidnap Rauf and also fired gunshots.

Muhammad Rizwan, Amir Jan and Mehran had come from Jaranwala to appear before Additional Sessions Judge Anjum Raza Syed to pursue their bail petition in a case got lodged by Rauf with Islampura police.Advocate Rauf had accused the brothers of hurling life threats at him. It later transpired that Rizwan was engaged to Rauf’s sister but the engagement did not last, giving rise to an enmity and litigation between both the families.

During the course of hearing, Rauf flanked by around 20 lawyers opposed the bail petition. However, the judge granted interim bail to accused till July 28 and the verdict prompted the lawyers present in the courtroom to start hooliganism and they hurled abuses at the judge.

The charged group of lawyers overpowered the three accused the moment they left the courtroom and gave them a sound thrashing, witnesses said. While beating the brothers with clubs, kicks and fists, the lawyers criticised the judge who had granted the trio bail a few moments ago.

The Islampura SHO and Lahore Bar Association’s representatives reached the spot and took both the parties to the committee room.

Witnesses said the lawyers started thrashing the policemen even in the presence of bar leaders. Instead of resolving the issue ‘amicably’, the bar leaders supported their colleagues and handed over the three policemen to Islampura police, alleging that they had tried to kidnap Rauf and also fired gunshots.

An application was also filed for the registration of an FIR against the three brothers, however, the police were yet to act.