Lawyers, cops face off at Gujar Khan courts
Court hearings cancelled after weekend incident involving cops, bar members
A file photo of fight between lawyers and Punjab police. PHOTO:SHAHID SAEED/EXPRESS
RAWALPINDI:
The Gujar Khan Police were unable to produce any under trial prisoners in court, nor could any hearings take place Monday after a group of lawyers stopped them from entering the court premises.
The issue had escalated after a scuffle between lawyers and police on Saturday, when SI Muhammad Aslam of the Gujjar Khan police had a scuffle with members of the Gujjar Khan Bar Association (GKBA) outside the court of an additional districts and sessions’ judge.
GKBA President Asad Umer was angry at Aslam for allegedly misbehaving with the father of a bar representative at the police station a few days earlier. Umer and a group of lawyers scuffled with Aslam at the courts on Saturday.
Gujjar Khan ASP Muhammad Ali said that police had booked the lawyers for attempted murder and rioting.
Islamabad lawyers thrash cop, then go on strike
Subsequently, on Monday, the GKBA displayed banners in court premises on Monday barring entry of police officials.
ASP Ali confirmed that the bar representatives had displayed banners against them, adding that that the judges were aware of the issue. He further confirmed that police did not produce any under trial prisoners on Monday to avoid a possible clash with lawyers.
A meeting between lawyers and the police also failed to resolve the dispute.
The Gujar Khan Police were unable to produce any under trial prisoners in court, nor could any hearings take place Monday after a group of lawyers stopped them from entering the court premises.
The issue had escalated after a scuffle between lawyers and police on Saturday, when SI Muhammad Aslam of the Gujjar Khan police had a scuffle with members of the Gujjar Khan Bar Association (GKBA) outside the court of an additional districts and sessions’ judge.
GKBA President Asad Umer was angry at Aslam for allegedly misbehaving with the father of a bar representative at the police station a few days earlier. Umer and a group of lawyers scuffled with Aslam at the courts on Saturday.
Gujjar Khan ASP Muhammad Ali said that police had booked the lawyers for attempted murder and rioting.
Islamabad lawyers thrash cop, then go on strike
Subsequently, on Monday, the GKBA displayed banners in court premises on Monday barring entry of police officials.
ASP Ali confirmed that the bar representatives had displayed banners against them, adding that that the judges were aware of the issue. He further confirmed that police did not produce any under trial prisoners on Monday to avoid a possible clash with lawyers.
A meeting between lawyers and the police also failed to resolve the dispute.