IHC CJ wants immediate action against lawyers involved in rampage

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah reprimanded the police on Friday for not taking action against the lawyers involved in the high court's February 8 rampage, saying he wants the real culprits to be named.

Two days ago, the Islamabad High Court chief justice termed the lawyers' hooliganism a disgrace for the entire legal fraternity as well as an attack on the judiciary itself.

"What is going on and who is doing all of this," Justice Minallah asked the deputy commissioner and added, "who is harassing other, professional lawyers."

Upon being told by the commissioner that he had come to know about the development this morning, the senior most judge inquired the senior superintendent of police (SSP) as to what was going on.

Also read: IHC resumes work under tight security days after lawyers' rampage

"You are only harassing innocent people and not taking to task those who are responsible," Justice Minallah told the police high-up.

He went on to add that "[it seems] that you cannot apprehend those who were behind the ransacking."

The IHC CJ then said, "this court won't allow anyone to play any sort of game [in the name of taking action against the culprits."

He ordered the police to conduct an inquiry into the matter and nab those at fault. "A country cannot function if there's no rule of law," he maintained.

"I want action against those who haven't yet nabbed the real culprits," Minallah said, reiterating that only five per cent of the lawyers have given a bad name to the entire fraternity.

Also read: 32 lawyers booked for IHC rowdyism

Concluding the hearing, the CJ asked the police high-up to submit a report tomorrow on "who is trying to save the culprits".

On February 8, hundreds of lawyers ransacked the chambers of Justice Minallah during a protest against the demolition of their illegal chambers at the Islamabad District Courts, also known as the katcheri.

The mob 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.