Lawyers go on nationwide strike, demand release of arrested in PIC riot case
Advocate leader Hamid Khan apologized to the relatives of the deceased patients.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Lawyers across the country are boycotting courts to protest against the arrest and registration of cases against those lawyers who were involved in the riot at Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).
On the call of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), lawyers throughout the country went on a strike and refused to attend the court for their proceedings due to which more than two thousand cases were adjourned.
Lawyers in Gujranwala, Pakpattan, Pir Mahal, Kallurkot, Nankana Sahib and Vehari also staged a complete strike. People who came from far distant areas faced serious difficulties as the lawyers refused to fight their cases which eventually resulted in postponement of the trials.
Similarly, Bahawalnagar, Faisalabad and Zafarwal also witnessed lawyers’ strike. KP lawyers expressed solidarity with lawyers from Lahore, while lawyers in Karak strongly condemned the police’s behavior.
Legal practitioners in various cities including Hyderabad and Larkana also protested against the filing of cases on the PIC incident. Lawyers in Chagai district of Balochistan remained on strike for the second consecutive day and did not appear in the courts.
Meanwhile, press conference of lawyers’ joint action committee leaders was held in the Lahore’s Supreme Court Registry. Senior advocate leaders called the PIC incident a national tragedy, and demanded a judicial inquiry. He also demanded the release of the arrested lawyers.
Hamid Khan termed the incident a conspiracy and said that it is not proper to blame only lawyers. He asserted that the matter started with the violence of doctors and paramedics on lawyers, and it all increased due to negligence. He also raised questions on the government’s performance on the matter.
He raised various questions asking: “Who is responsible for delay in filing the lawyer’s FIR?
“Who sabotaged the negotiations between lawyers and doctors?
Who is involved behind the viral video of doctors?”
He expressed fear saying that some forces want to bring dictatorship in the country, and weaken lawyers. Advocate leader Hamid Khan apologized to the relatives of the deceased patients.
