Lawyers announce nationwide strike over Lahore incident

LAHORE: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) announced a country-wide strike and will not appear in the courts on Thursday against police action on lawyers in Lahore today.

In a statement, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Vice Chairman Riazat Ali Sahar condemned the illegal and unlawful act of Punjab police against lawyers in Lahore, terming it a ‘brutal attack’ on the legal fraternity.

“The lawyers throughout the country will observe a complete strike tomorrow (May 9) and will not appear in the courts to show solidarity with their colleagues. They will also convey and hold protest meetings including rallies,” Pakistan Bar Council said.

The PBC vice chairman announced that lawyers will not appear in courts across the country to show solidarity with their colleagues in Lahore.

READ MORE: Violent clashes erupt as police disperse protesting lawyers in Lahore

He added that the police ‘brutally’ tortured the lawyers while many of them have been arrested. “The police brutality against lawyers cannot be ignored,” the PBC vice chairman said.

Riazat Ali Sahar said that under the constitution, every individual has the right to peaceful protests and demanded strict action against police officials involved in what it termed brutality against lawyers.

Earlier today, during the lawyer’s protest outside Lahore High Court, violent clashes erupted when police tried to disperse and stop lawyers from entering the high court premises.

Violent clashes were observed when lawyers were demonstrating against the division of civil courts and terrorism cases against their colleagues.

The protesters tried to enter the high court by removing the barricades around its premises. To disperse protesters, Lahore police baton-charged and began shelling and water cannons at the GPO Chowk and blocked their way to the court’s main gate.