Punjab govt dismisses advocate who slapped police official outside court

E-Paper | June 15, 2026

The Punjab government on Monday dismissed Additional Advocate General Khawar Ikram Bhatti for reportedly slapping a police officer outside an accountability court in Islamabad, DawnNews reported.

A notification issued by Punjab Law Secretary Dr Syed Abul Hassan Najmi said that "the competent authority... [has] dispensed with the services of [Bhatti] with immediate effect".

Earlier, Justice Ebadur Rehman Lodhi refused to let Bhatti appear before the Lahore High Court, saying that "it did not suit state lawyers to assault a police officer".

Lodhi also accused Bhatti of being politically motivated and said that a state lawyer should serve the state instead of a political party.

On Saturday, a group of lawyers associated with the PML-N had forcibly tried to enter an accountability court, where former premier's daughter Maryam Nawaz and her husband Muhammad Safdar had appeared for the hearing of a corruption case against them.

On being stopped by the police officers posted outside the court, the lawyers assaulted the official.

Later that day, a case against the group of lawyers was registered after Inspector Shakeel Ahmed of the Diplomatic Protection Department filed a complaint regarding the incident.

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Shahid

Oct 17, 2017 01:14am

at least some good news.

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Khan

Oct 17, 2017 01:22am

He should also be barred from practicing Law in any court in Pakistan, that would be ehtisaab for him.

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Sayyadain Zariff

Oct 17, 2017 01:28am

His licence to practice law must also be cancelled for life time with a fine of atleast Rs. 10 lakhs. Shameful.

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alba

Oct 17, 2017 01:34am

Lodhi also accused Bhatti of being politically motivated and said that a state appointed lawyer should serve the state instead of a political party. _ Here endeth the lesson.

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riaz

Oct 17, 2017 01:37am

But that is not enough. He must be put in jail for assaulting a police officer.

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Nawaewatan

Oct 17, 2017 01:42am

Bravo Judges! Last hope hinges on your honest work

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Hasnain Haque

Oct 17, 2017 01:43am

Dismissed for one day and he will then be reinstated. How can a govt official assault a senior police officer, just shows the Govt and PMLN is full of thugs and corrupt officials.

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ANWAR S SYED . St.Louis, MO. USA

Oct 17, 2017 01:46am

Lawyer should be arrested and FIR should be filed, because it is an assault on Police Officer. These lawyer should be taught how to behave.

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Pew

Oct 17, 2017 01:47am

He should now be told to apologize to the police officer.

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Naveed

Oct 17, 2017 01:50am

Serves him right!

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Chacha

Oct 17, 2017 02:13am

The way to go

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Oct 17, 2017 02:19am

Anyone assaulting a Police officer should be in Jail and their License to practice law revoked.

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Chacha

Oct 17, 2017 02:22am

Good but also need punishment

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Sayyadain Zariff

Oct 17, 2017 02:45am

His licences must be suspended with at least Rs. 10 lakh fine.

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Ali

Oct 17, 2017 02:50am

Good decision

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Asif A. Shah

Oct 17, 2017 02:59am

The Model Town Lahore incident may continue to rankle with the Punjab Government as long as Mr. Shahbaz Sharfi remains CM, however, in this instance, Punjab Government deserves appreciation for not dragging its feet and relieving Additional Advocate General of his duties in a timely manner. I still wonder what AAG was thinking when he assaulted the polices officer.

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Amjad

Oct 17, 2017 03:05am

Well done.. Our forces should have respect and awarded. Police is very respectable and should be honoured.

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Muhammad Arshad

Oct 17, 2017 03:25am

Good job

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cheema

Oct 17, 2017 03:37am

Right decision.Case be registered against him under the Law.

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Mushtaq Ahmed

Oct 17, 2017 03:38am

You need to fire many more, will you? These people are serving a person and not State.

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My Advice

Oct 17, 2017 03:40am

Very good decision. No need for chamchas to be on tax payers pay roll. hope it teaches lesson to other chamchas.

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Syed

Oct 17, 2017 03:45am

Because he might get promoted and get better job as he did as instructed.

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honest opinion

Oct 17, 2017 03:52am

"state lawyer should serve the state instead of a political party" I wish every govt employee understand this.

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Tabassum

Oct 17, 2017 04:06am

Nobody should take law into their own hands and according to the law of land perform their duties accordingly to reach justice. A.F. Tabassum Advocate and life member of Lahore High Court Bar Association.

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MSAlvi

Oct 17, 2017 04:34am

Is that it? Should that lawyer not be punished for physically assaulting the police officer?

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Oct 17, 2017 04:48am

Dismissal is a slap on the wrist. This bum should face criminal charges and his bar license must be revoked. There should be no tolerance for this kind of behavior. It reminds me 90s era when NS loyalists ransacked Supreme Court of Pakistan and nothing ever happened to them. Absolutely not acceptable.

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LAHORI KID

Oct 17, 2017 05:47am

Any other place in the world, if a citizen hits a police officer, that person is locked up and fined before the sun comes up for striking a peace officer, that is a BIG No No

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gul-e-napaid

Oct 17, 2017 05:47am

physical attack on a citizen is a criminal offence under Pakistan Penal Code (section varies according to the effects of the attack on that individual). Physical attack on a uniformed, on duty police officer has multi criminal dimensions. It is more serious when the attack is by someone who is responsible to prosecute those who commit such crimes, rather than commit such crime himself. Simply dismiss this Addl. Advocate Gen. by the Punjab Govt. is not enough. He should have been arrested right over the spot, suspended from his position and prosecuted. At the minimum, he should get 5 years jail and dismissal from service. He should also be barred from any govt. service in future. His bar license should also be suspended and he should be barred from practicing law anywhere in Pakistan and should not be allowed to appear in any court of law. But all this will happen only in civilized countries where there is a rule of law. I will not be surprised that soon he is guven better position.

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Muhammad

Oct 17, 2017 05:51am

How many daily such incidents occuring in Pakistan but no reporting happens , this police officer is lucky that he was caught by camera

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Adil Jadoon

Oct 17, 2017 06:05am

What a country...slap a police offocer in a civilzed country and you will spend years in jail....shame on us

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Aman

Oct 17, 2017 06:14am

I salute the judge for his courage and the police officer who did not retaliate on this insult!

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Naeem

Oct 17, 2017 07:11am

It is sad that educated person behaves in this manner

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Rahman

Oct 17, 2017 07:30am

It is good development

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A&A

Oct 17, 2017 07:38am

Drama!

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Kashif

Oct 17, 2017 07:49am

Is dismissal a solution to this kind of behavior? That man should brought to justice in a court of law and should be behind bars in addition to dismissal.

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Daanish

Oct 17, 2017 08:40am

Excellent decision..His license should be revoked and made an example. Lawyers behave unlawfully should get severe punishment as they have no excuse of ignorance. Their arrogance must be tamed.

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Sabir Khan

Oct 17, 2017 08:44am

Good decision. totally support it.

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BAKHTIAR UDDIN

Oct 17, 2017 09:06am

This lawyer, Ikram Bhatti must be given an exemplary punishment. Dismissal ONLY from Government job is no punishment. The lawyers being a literate community must set personal example. Ikram Bhatti's license to practice law should also be revoked and his entry to any Court of Law must also be banned for life.

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Addie Khan

Oct 17, 2017 09:15am

Accountability & equality for all in cases.

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Asad

Oct 17, 2017 09:41am

A good step in the right direction by the Punjab Government. And even better one taken by Justice Ebadur Rehman Lodhi! Hopefully, we are finally moving towards some sanity on part of ruling party at least to the extent of Punjab Government, and special thanks to the higher judiciary for keeping up the flag of rule of law and ethics.

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anonymouseeee

Oct 17, 2017 09:42am

It was more than just one lawyer that misbehaved with the police. They ALL should be suspended for LIFE.

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A. Khalid

Oct 17, 2017 09:49am

Very Good

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aleem

Oct 17, 2017 09:50am

My God this man was an Additional Advocate general of Punjab government. My head hangs in utter shame and despair at the state of affairs of my beloved homeland. Such kind and calibre of people are at the top everywhere and have political affiliations and openly display that when they are government servants and should not support any political party or cause during their work. God help Pakistan.

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Farrukh Hussain

Oct 17, 2017 10:00am

BRAVO Punjab Government.

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Asad

Oct 17, 2017 12:35pm

Good decision.No one should be above law and must respect all civil authorities.

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Muhammad

Oct 17, 2017 01:00pm

good work. Pakistan zindabad

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Yash

Oct 18, 2017 03:14pm

@Pew. No sir just an apology is not good enough. He should not be allowed to practise again.

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