LAHORE, May 22: Resorting to violence once again, lawyers on Tuesday thrashed yet another policeman on the Lahore High Court premises and manhandled a judge’s reader at the civil courts.

This time the victim was an assistant sub-inspector from Gujranwala, who had come to the court to appear before Justice Anwarul Haq in connection with a habeas corpus petition.

As ASI Khalid left the courtroom after the judge concluded the proceedings, advocates Rafique and Shahid Iqbal, accompanied by dozens of other lawyers, attacked him.

The ASI was kicked and punched by the lawyers who also tore his uniform. The lawyers were reportedly annoyed by the statement the ASI gave in the court.

LHC security personnel dared to rescue the policeman by getting hold of aggressive lawyers.

As the incident was brought to the notice of Justice Haq, he summoned Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) representatives.

Bar president Shehram Sarwar appeared before the judge and condemned the incident. He said the bar would not tolerate such elements and take action against them.

Advocate General Punjab Ashtar Ausaf also undertook to take disciplinary action against the accused lawyers. Both the lawyers and the victim submitted applications at Old Anarkali police station for registration of cases against each other.

In another incident at Civil Courts (Aiwan-i-Adl), Advocate Farhan Gilani and some other lawyers manhandled Mahmood Butt, the reader of Civil Judge Mubashar Nadeem, allegedly over appointment of local commission in a case.

In protest against the incident, the entire civil courts staff abandoned their work and went on a strike. They gathered outside the chamber of the Lahore sessions judge and protested lawyers’ attitude.

After half an hour protest, the court staff resumed their work as the sessions judge assured them that their grievance would be redressed.