Lawyers boycott courts in protest against Daska incident
Lawyers have boycotted court proceedings in all major cities across the country.
LAHORE (Web Desk) – Lawyers are observing countrywide strike in protest against Daska incident today (Tuesday), Dunya News reported.
At least two lawyers were killed on Monday in clashes with police when an anti-encroachment drive turned violent in Punjab province s Daska city, forcing authorities to deploy paramilitary forces to contain the unrest.
In Karachi, lawyers boycotted the Sindh High Court, City Court, Malir Court and other lower courts on the appeal of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC). However, the SHC is hearing key cases today.
Lawyers are also observing strike in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on the appeal of Pakistan and Punjab Bar Council. Black flags are waving outside the bar rooms while resolutions condemning police brutality were also passed by the bars councils association.
The legal fraternity has demanded that the government should bring the killers to justice.
In Gujranwala, nearly 2,500 prisoners could not be presented before courts on the day of hearing of their cases due to ongoing strike by the lawyers.
Policemen deployed at courts are directed to wear plain clothes while cops present on entry and exit points of the session court have been asked to return to Police Line.
Lawyers are also protesting in Jhang, Sargodha, Khushab, Toba Tek Singh, Gujrat, Jhelum, Narowal, Shakargarh and other cities of Punjab.
DASKA CLASH
On Monday, the incident occurred after police and the district administration were carrying out an anti-encroachment operation in Daska when a group of lawyers asked them not to bulldoze a few shops as the matter was pending in a court.
The police, however, went ahead with the drive that led to clashes with lawyers and local residents. Three lawyers sustained bullet injuries after police opened fire. All the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital where Rana Khalid Abbas, president of the Daska Bar Association and another lawyer succumbed to their injuries.
The lawyers alleged that station house officer (SHO) Shahzad Warraich opened fire on the protesting lawyers. As the news of the killings spread, the lawyers fraternity took to streets in different districts of Punjab and protested against the police brutality.
The angry mob torched the Deputy Superintendent of Police s office and pelted stones on Daska police station. Taking note of the incident, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered a probe, seeking a report from the authorities concerned.
Lawyers in Lahore tried to enter the Punjab Assembly where the session was underway. The opposition boycotted the session over the killing of two lawyers. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Manzoor Ahmed took notice of the incident and ordered deployment of Rangers in Daska.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered a judicial inquiry of the incident and announced to form a joint investigation team (JIT) comprising officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau and police to probe it.
