GUJRAT: The Punjab Bar Council, taking suo motu notice of an attack on a consumer court in Mandi Bahauddin, has suspended the licences of at least five lawyers, including Mandi Bahauddin district bar association president Zahid Yar Gondal and secretary Yasir Arafat, for their alleged involvement in manhandling and thrashing of judge Rao Abdul Jabbar.

A heavy police contingent had been deployed around the consumer court for the security of judge following Tuesday’s attack by a group of angry lawyers as Mandi Bahauddin DBA boycotted the courts on Wednesday.

The decision to suspend the licences of five lawyers and issuance of show-cause notices was taken at a meeting of the PbBC executive committee held on Nov 30.

According to a press release issued by the PbBc secretary on Wednesday, the offices of president and secretary of Mandi Bahauddin DBA have been ceased and five lawyers Matiur Rehman Ranjha, Zeeshan Gondal, Aurangzeb Gondal, Zahid Yar Gondal and Yasir Arafat issued notices to appear before the executive committee on Dec 6 to explain as to why their licences should not be cancelled permanently for their misbehaviour with the judge.

The PbBC has taken the notice following a video of lawyers thrashing the judge at the courtroom, went viral on the social media and the issue was discussed in the executive committee meeting.

On the other hand, the legal fraternity boycotted the courts in Mandi Bahauddin on Wednesday against the registration of a case against the bar officials and other lawyers under Anti-Terrorism Act and other sections of PPC on the complaint of judge Rao Abdul Jabbar on Tuesday.

The judge had earlier issued a show-cause notice to Mr Gondal to explain his conduct during contempt of court proceedings against the then deputy commissioner Tariq Basra and assistant commissioner Imtiaz Ali Beig on Friday last and Dec 1 was fixed as the date for submission of response to the notice.

However, it was learnt that no one appeared before the court from the DBA president side due to strike by lawyers and the judge fixed Dec 7 next date for hearing.

Meanwhile, police during raids on Wednesday arrested three [nominated] lawyers.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2021