SIALKOT: The conflict between lawyers and Pasrur land revenue record centre officials intensified on Thursday as both sides observed strike against each other.

The revenue officials closed the centre in protest against local lawyers who had allegedly ransacked it [the centre] on April 25 and beat up the staff for not ‘obliging’ them with some official work.

On Thursday, the offices of tehsildar and registration branches in Sialkot, Daska and Sambrial were kept closed to express solidarity with staff in Pasrur, causing a great deal of inconvenience to people.

On the other hand, lawyers also observed strike against what they said the [alleged] corruption of the Pasrur land revenue record centre officials. The protesting lawyers alleged that the revenue officials had humiliated and thrashed some of their colleagues who had visited the Pasrur centre for some work.

The revenue officials had already got a case registered against some lawyers for their alleged vandalism.

On April 25, the case was registered under sections 147, 149, 186, 342, 427 and 506 of PPC.

The FIR said the lawyers wanted to get some illegal entries and on refusal they ransacked the office and beat up the staff.

The lawyers claimed that some of their colleagues were beaten up for pointing out the alleged corruption of the revenue staff.

Addressing a press conference at Pasrur on Thursday, Pasrur Bar Association President Nasir Sandhu demanded immediate transfer of Tehsildar Khwaja Nadeemul Hassan and Land Revenue Record Centre Assistant Director Mudassar Khan. ADC (Revenue) Dr. Umer Sher Chatta said Pasrur police were investigating the matter.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2017