LAWYERS are protectors of the law, whereas police officers implement that law. Both these groups have a duty to uphold the sanctity of the law, but what happened in Daska was humiliating for both sides.

An SHO killed two lawyers, one of whom was the president of the Daska Bar Association. As expected, the lawyers responded to this deed in a violent way. They burnt the house of the assistant commissioner of Daska and also burnt the office of the DSP and the TMO.

Besides, lawyers in Lahore blocked The Mall and tried to enter the Punjab Assembly. In other cities, lawyers beat policemen wherever they found them. This should not have happened.

The chief justice of the high court, on the appeal of the members of different bars, ordered that there should be Rangers personnel posted outside courts.

Where is the state? Where is the government? Where is the rule of law?

All this makes one believe that both lawyers and policemen are not fulfilling the requirements of their responsibilities and duties according to the law. The rule of law has to be maintained if we want democracy to flourish.

Khurram Iqbal

Lahore

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2015

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