LAHORE: The legal fraternity’s protest on Thursday entered its sixth day demanding that the Lahore High Court (LHC) withdraw the conviction of a lawyer on a contempt of court charge.

The lawyers boycotted the proceedings before the district courts, however, the boycott was not witnessed in the LHC.

A heavy contingent of the anti-riot police remained deployed in the LHC in view of the lawyers’ protest.

A joint statement issued by the Punjab Bar Council (PbBC), the Lahore High Court Bar Association and the Lahore Bar Association reiterated the demand for withdrawal of the lawyer’s conviction.

It said no judge would be invited to any function by the bars unless the three-month sentence of Advocate Rana Muhammad Asif was suspended. It also vowed to observe the protest on Friday (today).

LHC senior puisne judge, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan had on Dec 2 sentenced Advocate Asif, also a member of the PbBC, for obstructing the proceedings of his court.

On the day of the incident, Advocate Asif was not wearing his black gown, an essential part of the uniform for judges and lawyers during winter, inside the courtroom when Justice Khan told the lawyer that he should have worn the gown before entering the courtroom.

The lawyer got offended and responded to the judge in harsh words.

The judge also suspended the practicing licence of the lawyer for six months.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2022