LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought personal appearance of the Punjab chief secretary, home secretary and the inspector general of police (IGP) on petitions against ‘reckless’ arrests of lawyers in the wake of attack on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi also sought assistance from the advocate general and the expected appearance of the PIC head along with senior faculty members for Wednesday (today).

However, the bench observed that the grievances of the PIC officials would be heard in the chamber.

Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem was the other member at the bench that took up the petitions in a jam-packed court.

Pakistan Bar Council members Azam Nazir Tarar and Ahsan Bhoon, Lahore High Court Bar Association president Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhry, its former president Asghar Ali Gill and other leaders appeared to represent the legal fraternity.

The bench, however, expressed displeasure over the presence of Lahore Bar Association president Asim Cheema with an observation that the district bar was mainly responsible for bringing shame to the whole institution.

Justice Naqvi said the LBA president should not have come to the court.

“We feel ashamed introducing ourselves as judges,” regretted the bench.

The bench observed that only a handful of lawyers had been bringing a bad name to the entire legal fraternity. “What are you doing against these lawyers?” the judge asked the bar leaders.

Mr Tarar said the bar had taken cognisance of the matter. However, he said, those having no concern with the incident had been arrested by the police and the real culprits were still at large.

He pointed out that two lawyers were arrested from their chambers in Khushab district.

Mr Gill told the bench that the LBA president was against the protest outside the PIC, however, some women lawyers provoked him and offered “bangles” to him.

“Did this affect his masculinity?” asked Justice Naqvi and there was a laughter in the courtroom.

The judge expressed his resolved to protect the sanctity of “black coat”.

The bench will resume hearing on Wednesday (today).

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2019