GUJRAT: A free for all erupted on sessions court premises here on Wednesday involving lawyers, litigants and police after a man reportedly slapped a lawyer in front of a courtroom.

Following the incident, the lawyers went on a strike and boycotted the courts.

The ugly incident happened following hearing of a case registered against a lawyer, Aftab Sohal, for allegedly blocking public path. The complainant, a resident of the same village where Mr Sohal lived, got registered a case against him with Jalalpur Jattan Sadar police station.

The litigant slapped the lawyer when they came out of the court of Additional Session Judge Zafar Iqbal Tarar. This infuriated other lawyers present there who scuffled with the litigants and some policemen doing their duty.

The lawyers alleged that ASI Asghar Shah, the investigation officer of the case, instigated the litigants to attack them.

Soon after the incident, District Police Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmed reached there and held negotiations with the representatives of the District Bar Association, assuring them of action against the police officials if they were found guilty.

Later, Civil Lines police registered a case against a litigant and four police officials on the report of Aftab Sohal under sections 506/2 and 109 of the PPC.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2015

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