LAHORE: The legal fraternity on Monday resorted to violent protests in different cities of Punjab after the killing of two lawyers by police firing in Daska.

Daska Tehsil Bar Association President Rana Khalid Abbas and another lawyer were killed while many injured in the incident. Abbas was also a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawyer’s wing.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik took a prompt notice of the incident and ordered the government authorities to deploy Rangers in Daska to control the situation.

The chief justice also rushed to Daska along with other judges and met lawyers’ leaders and police bosses there. Lahore High Court Bar Association President Pir Masood Chishti also accompanied the judges. The CJ directed the Sialkot district and sessions judge to personally look into the matter and furnish a report immediately.

Before leaving for Sialkot, the chief justice visited Mayo Hospital to inquire after the wounded lawyers shifted there from Daska. He directed the MS and doctors to ensure best treatment for the lawyers.

PBC announces countrywide strike today

The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) announced a countrywide strike on Tuesday (today) and three-day mourning. Bar’s vice-chairman Azam Nazir Tarar said that black flags would be hoisted on the barrooms besides protest meetings across the country.

He demanded of the Punjab government to immediately arrest culprits responsible for the gruesome murders of lawyers.

He also demanded forthwith suspension of the Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO). The Punjab Bar Council and LHCBA also gave their separate strike calls.

The LHCBA held an emergency meeting of its general house to condemn the incident. The house gave 48-hour ultimatum to the Punjab chief minister for the arrest of police officials involved in the killings of lawyers. It further demanded trial of guilty officials under the anti- terrorism law.

Earlier, the angry lawyers staged a rally on The Mall from GPO Chowk to the Punjab Assembly. They chanted slogans against the Punjab government and police. They thrashed police personnel on roads and damaged their vehicles.

Some of the lawyers tried to enter the assembly building, but the security personnel closed the main gate. The lawyers hit the gate with kicks and chairs to vent their anger.

Outside judges’ gate of the LHC, lawyers surrounded the car of Justice Malik and registered their protest. The CJ came out of his car to console the lawyers and assured them of justice to the deceased lawyers.

After the departure of the chief justice, lawyers put barricades and barbed wires on gates and did not allow other judges to leave the court. The judges had to stay in their chambers till late in the evening.

Lahore Bar Association members entered the commissioner office, ransacked his car and manhandling the staff.

During protests in Gujranwala, Okara, Sahiwal and other cities, the lawyers attacked police personnel on roads. They even manhandled common citizens and media persons to vent their fury.

In Gujranwala, lawyers tortured many policemen and damaged vehicles of the Elite Force and others. They also blocked roads and chanted slogans against police.

The lawyers in Okara and Sahiwal also took to roads and held protests against the killings. They had skirmishes with police during the protests. In Okara, police used aerial firing to disperse the lawyers.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015

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