LAHORE: The group of lawyers supporting Lahore High Court Bar Association’s (LHCBA) Multan president Sher Zaman Qureshi continued their protest on the premises of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday against journalists who were accused of biased reporting of Monday’s events.

Appearing before a larger bench of the LHC on Tuesday, Multan Regional Police Officer Sultan Azam Temuri informed the judges that the police had been unable to arrest Advocate Qureshi. The LHCBA leader had gone underground, Mr Temuri said, while requesting more time to ensure his arrest.

The LHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, adjourned hearing of the contempt proceedings till Sept 8, and directed Mr Temuri to ensure the contemnor’s arrest. Advocate Syed Qaiser Abbas Kazmi, the other contemnor, was present at the proceedings.

The five-judge bench issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Advocate Qureshi on Monday after he had continuously refused to appear in the contempt proceedings against him.

Fewer lawyers responded to the LHCBA’s call for a strike in support of Advocate Qureshi as over 95 per cent attendance of lawyers was recorded in cases fixed before various courts on Tuesday.

The protesting lawyers gathered on the premises of the LHC instead of taking to the streets on Tuesday. They stopped TV crews from filming the protest and shouted curse words at the media personnel. The lawyers criticised reporters for “biased” reporting of Monday’s protest during which the lawyers had clashed with the police and broken past the judges’ gate.

Looking to avert a possible hostile situation, the reporters and cameramen left the court premises, but later LHCBA secretary Amir Saeed Rawn claimed that journalists were free to perform their duties.

On Tuesday, security was tightened at the chief justice block as containers were placed in front of entrances in addition to iron grille gates. Rangers and anti-riot personnel were also deployed to maintain law and order.

Though the protesters continued to shout slogans at the chief justice and the media, the demonstration did not take a violent turn. Instead, many of them had turned on senior lawyers who had criticised their protest.

In Multan, the lawyers supporting Advocate Qureshi continued their strike on Tuesday.

Shakeel Ahmed from Multan contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2017