IHC, sub-courts closed for second day following lawyers' rampage

Security at the high court, Supreme Court remains high a day after the former's siege

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) and its sub-divisional courts in the federal capital remained closed on Tuesday, a day after lawyers barged into the court and ransacked the chamber of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah.

The lawyers have been protesting against the demolition of their chambers at the Islamabad katcheri by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) late on Sunday night.

Due to the situation, the security for the high court as well as the Supreme Court has been beefed up, with heavy contingents of police and Rangers guarding the courts.

Also read: Lawyers run amok in federal capital

On Sunday, the CDA enforcement team and police demolished the 'illegal' chambers. The next day, a group of lawyers entered the IHC premises, angrily chanting slogans against the judiciary and the CDA.

The mob later barged into the IHC chief justice’s chamber and started ransacking the office in which Justice Minallah was present. Groups of lawyers also forced other judges out of their courtrooms.