Lawyers in Punjab to remain on strike for second consecutive day tomorrow

Different associations of lawyers in Lahore on Thursday announced that they would again be on a complete strike tomorrow against the police’s crackdown on their colleagues in Lahore on Wednesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

In their joint resolution, they said that besides a strike, there would also be a general house meeting on Friday.

After that, the lawyers would take out a rally from the Lahore High Court (LHC) Bar to the GPO Chowk, read the resolution.

Earlier, in their meeting held at the Lahore High Court Bar, representatives of the Punjab Bar, LHC Bar and the Lahore Bar condemned in unambiguous terms the shelling and arrests of lawyers by the police outside the LHC yesterday.

Calling the notification issued for shifting courts to Model Town ‘controversial’, they demanded its withdrawal.

They also demanded the removal of terrorism-related sections from the cases registered against the lawyers as well as the release of those who had been arrested consequently. 

Former Supreme Court Bar Association president Ahsan Bhoon, LHC Bar President Asad Manzoor Butt and other senior lawyers attended the huddle.

Lawyers across the country boycotted the court proceedings on Thursday.

Heavy police contingents were deployed outside the Lahore High Court (LHC) in view of likely protest by black coats against the police’s yesterday’s crackdown on their demonstration, which they had organised to register their protest against the registration of cases against their colleagues under terrorism-related sections and the shifting of courts.   

Two prison vans and water cannons were also brought to the nearby GPO Chowk.

It is pertinent to mention here that different bodies of lawyers had yesterday given a call for a complete boycott of court proceedings.

Police baton-charged and teargassed lawyers besides taking several of them into custody.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf