LBA refuses to accept guardian judge’s order

Lawyer sentenced for assaulting court official

LAHORE: The Lahore Bar Association (LBA) has refused to accept a guardian family court judge’s verdict wherein a lawyer was handed down six-month imprisonment hours after a scuffle with court staff.

The tussle between the bar and court staffers reached its peak as LBA representatives sought to protect their colleagues, while the officials wanted implementation of the verdict.

It was learnt that a couple of days back some lawyers went to the court of Guardian Judge Amber Gull Khan and thrashed record keeper Waqar Ahsan with clubs over the dismissal because of non-prosecution of a suit for dissolution of marriage. The judge, taking notice of the incident, initiated proceedings under Section 228 of PPC against Advocate Mohsin and some unidentified persons, awarding him six-month imprisonment over his assault on the staff member. However, insiders told The Express Tribune that LBA representatives were making efforts to stop registration of an FIR against the lawyers. They argued that the judge should not have sentenced the lawyer without hearing him. They claimed that his client’s suit for dissolution of marriage was dismissed over non-prosecution although they had appeared when the case was called.

Hundreds of court staff members, wearing masks, protested on the Ferozpur Road, demanding arrest of the lawyers who had assaulted their colleague.

Meanwhile, the LBA also observed a strike. Talking to The Express Tribune, LBA President GA Khan Tariq claimed that legal procedure was not adopted in the sentencing.

He demanded that the judge be restrained from work until an inquiry is conducted. LBA leaders also called for action against the court staffers who had halted their work and protested in front of the Civil Secretariat. On the other hand, Waqar Ahsan said the court staff had observed a boycott all over the province against the conduct of the lawyers. They would not start work until the attackers were put behind the bars, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2020.