FAISALABAD: A case has been registered against more than 30 lawyers under Anti-Terrorism Act, for allegedly manhandling Dijkot police station in-charge and his staff on the district courts premises.

In his complaint filed with the Civil Lines police, Dijkot Station House Officer Malik Waris stated that on Saturday he produced a suspect, Malik Shahid, brother of a lawyer, Malik Arshad, who was booked in a case under section 406 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on April 25.

The SHO said that on the district courts premises some lawyers, including Tariq Maan, Mian Liaqat, Zahid, Malik Arshad, Malik Farhan, Fahad, Bilal, Waseem, Malik Iftikhar, Iftikhar Ahmed and their 25 unknown colleagues attacked the police.

He said the lawyers not only hurled life threats at him and his subordinates but also tore their uniform, snatched cash, ID cards, service cards and his wrist watch.

He said the lawyers’ act of violence terrorised the litigants and others present on the courts premises, adding that he and other policemen were rescued by some people.

On the complaint of the SHO, police registered a case against the suspects under section 7 of the ATA, 114,148,149,186,353 and 382 of the PPC with no arrest.

Lawyers have been manhandling police and litigants on court premises, especially in the cases in which their colleagues or relatives are involved.

In most of such cases, the police officials have to reconcile with the lawyers because of the pressure of their high-ups.

Meanwhile, flanked by fellow lawyers, district bar association Secretary Sohail Zafar at a press conference at the district bar on Sunday announced a strike for today (Monday) across the division.

Denying the allegations, he alleged the police had raided the houses of lawyers and misbehaved with their families. He claimed that the lawyers had only exchanged words with the SHO and nobody tortured him.

Lawyers demanded the suspension of the SHO and warned they would not allow any policeman to enter the courts if their demand was not accepted.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2018

Must Read

Ukraine, Nato and the future of Europe

Ukraine, Nato and the future of Europe

The spectacle of the verbal spat between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky in the Oval Office was stark evidence of a tectonic shift in longstanding US foreign policy on Ukraine, Russia, Europe and Nato.

Opinion

Editorial

After the review
Updated 16 Mar, 2025

After the review

Should prepare economy for durable growth by attracting foreign private investments to boost productivity and exports.
Embracing crypto
16 Mar, 2025

Embracing crypto

IT seems a little prod was all it took for Pakistan to finally ‘embrace the future’. The Pakistan Crypto Council...
Fault lines
16 Mar, 2025

Fault lines

IT was a distressing spectacle, though a sadly predictable one. As the National Assembly took up for discussion the...
Revised solar policy
Updated 15 Mar, 2025

Revised solar policy

Criticism policy revisions misplaced as these will increase payback periods for consumers with oversized solar systems.
Toxic prejudice
15 Mar, 2025

Toxic prejudice

WITH far-right movements on the march across the world, it is no surprise that anti-Muslim bias is witnessing high...
Children in jails
15 Mar, 2025

Children in jails

PAKISTAN’S children in prison have often been treated like adult criminals. The Sindh government’s programme to...