LAHORE: Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF) Chief Organiser Intezar Panjutha on Thursday criticised the president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) for receiving a financial grant of Rs50 million from the Punjab government.

Speaking at a press conference, Panjutha said the ILF was parting ways with the Hamid Khan-led professional group.

He clarified that PTI Senator Hamid Khan was the head of the professional group and the ILF was a separate organisation with no connection to the group.

He claimed that the professional group won elections with the support of the ILF but did not “own” or acknowledge the forum afterwards.

He criticised LHCBA President Babar Murtaza, questioning why he had accepted Rs50 million grant from the provincial government.

“What did the president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association surrender in return for the funds?” Panjutha asked, adding that questions also arose over whether the bar could receive government funding and simultaneously launch a movement against the same government.

The ILF leader also urged the Lahore High Court chief justice to take notice of the detention of Dr Yasmin Rashid and Aleema Khan, along with other ‘political arrests’ of women.

Panjutha said the proposed long march of the PTI was in accordance with the law and rights available in the Constitution.

He said the lawyers’ Joint Action Committee would decide the future course of action.

A delegation of LHCBA led by President Babar Murtaza had on Sept 29 received a cheque of the government’s grant from Advocate General of Punjab Barrister Zafarullah Khan.

Sources said the bar had been facing financial issues and unable to pay salaries to its employees for five months.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026