LAHORE: A group of lawyers affiliated with the PML-N on Thursday disrupted proceedings of a weekly general house meeting of Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) held to persuade Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for resignation in the wake of Joint Investigation Team report on Panama Papers case.

Minutes after the meeting started, PML-N lawyers entered the LHCBA’s Kiyani Hall, holding placards carrying the prime minister’s pictures in their hands and chanting slogans in favour of Nawaz Sharif, occupied the stage.

They also climbed on the tables and chanted slogans against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan. Their slogans were reciprocated by the lawyers participating in the meeting by chanting “Go Nawaz go.”

After the Bar leaders failed to control the rumpus and resume the meeting, they finally decided to lead a protest rally towards the nearby GPO Chowk on The Mall. The protesting lawyers chanted anti-government slogans and blocked the road.

The protesting lawyers then marched towards Charing Cross after workers of civil society and some opposition parties joined them.

Addressing the rally, LHCBA president Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali criticised the PML-N lawyers for attacking the meeting. He said PML-N goons were in denial mode and in habit of attacking the state institutions through characters like Gullu Butt.

He said the lawyers would not quit demanding the premier’s resignation as the JIT’s report vindicated the stance of the legal fraternity.

Mr Ali said PM Sharif stood disqualified in the light of the report and his resignation was critical for the survival of democracy in the country. He urged the parliamentarians to remove their “corrupt leader” and protect the image of Pakistan.

The president said the Bar would continue its weekly protest as decided by an all Pakistan lawyers’ representative convention unless the prime minister resigned from his office.

Vice president Rashid Lodhi and Secretary Amir Saeed Rawn also spoke on the occasion and condemned the lawyers supporting the ruling party for attacking the meeting.

After staying at the Charing Cross for half an hour, the lawyers returned to the Bar.

The PML-N lawyers had also attacked the convention hosted by the LHCBA on May 20 last on the issue of Panamagate. The convention had resolved to launch a nationwide movement for prime minister’s resignation.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2017