Lahore (Web Desk): Police in Lahore on Wednesday baton-charged and fired tear gas at lawyers after they staged a protest rally and attempted to enter the Lahore High Court (LHC) from GPO Chowk.
The violence erupted as lawyers, including members from the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) tried to enter the LHC building.
According to reports, police arrested several protesting lawyers. A heavy contingent of police has been deployed in and around the Civil Bar and Lahore High Court Bar, while the entrance and exit routes of the LHC have been closed.
Footage broadcast on television showed a large number of riot personnel and lawyers clashing, with what appeared to be tear gas blanketing GPO Chowk.
Lawyers were seen covering their faces and water cannons were also stationed.
Meanwhile, traffic flow at Mall Road and adjoining roads has also been severely affected.
Speaking to media , SSP Operations Lahore Ali Raza said the lawyers resorted to violence first and started pelting the deployed police personnel with stones.
He added they were in contact with the lawyers' leadership to hold negotiations and resolve the matter in an amicable manner.
The clashes started after lawyers decided to take out a protest rally. Lawyers are conducting strike and holding protest against decision to shift Lahore’s civil courts, and registration of terrorism-related cases against lawyers.
The lawyers’ bodies also demanding LHC chief justice to reverse decision on court shifting. Some of the protesters carried placards reading ‘Judicial dictatorship rejected.’
The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has called for a strike against the police action against the lawyers.
According to Ahsan Bhoon, lawyers across the country will boycott the courts tomorrow. He added that rallies will be taken out across the country in solidarity with the lawyers in Lahore.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the lawyers maintained they have only two demands, stating that lawyers are not terrorists.
The lawyers' leadership said: “[We] will go on strike and issue a call for lawyers from all over the country to gather in Lahore.”
