LAHORE: The police registered a case under terror and other offenses against Lahore Bar Association (LBA) Secretary Umar Waqas Warraich and 15 to 20 other lawyers on Wednesday for allegedly manhandling police personnel, and misbehaving with senior police officers.

The incident took place on the sessions court premises. Lawyers have condemned the move and demanded withdrawal of the “fake case”.

Video clips of the incident went online, showing Mr Warraich shouting at SP Raza Tanvir to “get out of the court premises”, insisting “it is our premises”.

An official stated that following the video clips, the police’s high command decided to respond firmly to the lawyers by registering criminal cases against them.

The FIR was filed by police inspector Asad Mahmood Qureshi with the Islampura police station.

He alleged that they were at the sessions court to carry out an official duty when Mr Warraich and other lawyers ordered them to leave the premises. They allegedly manhandled him, tore his uniform, and snatched a police rifle from a constable.

The FIR states that provoked by Mr Waqas, another lawyers also snatched an SMG official gun from another police employee, aimed it at the police team, and threatened them with consequences.

Senior police officers, upon being alerted, arrived at the scene, and lawyers also misbehaved with them.

Lawyers have condemned the registration of the case.

In a statement, Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Haroonur Rashid declared it a false and frivolous case filed against the bar secretary and other lawyers under anti-terrorism charges.

“The registration of the false case against the secretary of the LBA is illegal and unlawful,” Mr Haroon said, demanding that the IG police withdraw it and take action against the police officers involved in filing the case against the lawyers.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023