NAROWAL: Police have registered a case against seven people, three lawyers among them, on the allegation of thrashing a woman petitioner and her cousin in a land dispute case.

Amrit Shahzadi, a resident of Shahpur Bhangu village, visited a court in Shakargarh in connection with a land dispute. A group of people including lawyers thrashed her and her cousin Abdul Qayyum who was accompanying her.

In an application to the city police station, Qayyum stated that they were in the chamber of Advocate Muhammad Atif Khan at Shakargarh court when Muhammad Waseem, Yasir Khan, Advocate Asif Sultan besides four or five other people stormed the chamber and abused them. Advocate Asif Sultan and Yasir Khan dragged Shahzadi out of the chamber and publicly beat her for pursuing the case.”

The video of violence against the woman went viral on social media and news channels also highlighted it. Two policemen can be seen helplessly standing by.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar took notice of the incident and on the order of District Police Officer Zulfiqar Ahmad, police registered a case against lawyers Yasir Khan, Wasim Latif and Asif Khan and four others.

Shakargarh circle DSP Malik Muhammad Khalil said the incident would be investigated on merit.

Later, the Shakargarh Bar Association boycotted courts as a protest against institution of a case against the lawyers.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2019