Mending fences: LHC orders formation of mediation committee

Home secretary, IGP assure court accused will be treated in accordance with law

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court’s (LHC) division bench headed by Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi directed the representatives of both, lawyers and doctors’, community to nominate their members (equal number from both sides) to mend the fences.

Justice Naqvi was hearing, in his chamber, different petitions filed by the lawyers seeking the release of the detained lawyers, restrain copes from torturing, implicating in false cases and harassing them in wake of Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) attack.

Lawyers had appointed four representatives to resolve the dispute with the doctors. However, the senior administration of PIC is still deliberating over who to nominate.

However, Justice Naqvi disposed of four petitions after the lawyers and local administration and Inspector General Punjab were agreed to deal with iron hands to those who attacked at PIC.

Lawyers in the dock: 250 booked on terrorism in PIC attack

The IGP was further ordered not to produce the lawyers before courts by covering their faces with clothes.

During the proceedings, Punjab advocate general, secretary home, IGP assured the court that the arrested lawyers will be treated in accordance with law adding no unlawful and unconstitutional step will be taken against the lawyer’s community.

PIC head, IGP Punjab, home secretary and advocate general Punjab attended the proceedings. Tight security measures were taken; heavy police contingents were deployed at LHC to avoid any unpleasant incident.

As the proceedings concluded, lawyer’s community complying court orders nominated senior advocates vice president Punjab Bar Council Shahnawaz Ismaeel Gujar, president Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHBA) Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhry, former president LHCBA Pir Masood Chishti and senior lawyer Asghar Gill.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2019.