LAHORE, April 22: Employees of the Income Tax Department went on strike after a group of lawyers ‘manhandled’ an additional commissioner and ransacked his office on Monday.

The lawyers alleged that Additional Commissioner Farrukh Majeed demanded illegal gratification to give them relief in a case. The other side claimed that the lawyers turned violent when the additional commissioner refused to admit their ‘illegal’ demand.

Eyewitnesses said the employees of the tax office also attacked lawyers when the black coats manhandled the additional commissioner and broke window panes of his office. Some lawyers suffered minor injuries during the scuffle.

The lawyers took out a protest rally and blocked Mauj Darya Road (outside Tax House). They also filed an application to the police for registration of a case.

Later, the office-bearers of the Lahore Tax Bar met Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and sought strict action against the commissioner and the employees of the tax office. The CJ summoned details of the incident and asked the lawyers to remain calm.