Court orders registration of case against Sanaullah for ‘thrashing’ of lawyers

Court notes that the petitioners were 'baton-charged, humiliated, disgraced' despite cooperating with law enforcers

LAHORE:

A sessions court in Lahore has ordered registration of a criminal case against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and police officials for the alleged torture of lawyers during PTI’s long march on May 25.

The order was issued after Haider Majeed Advocate filed a petition in the court following the release of former ruling party’s long march video.

The petitioner maintained that the police tortured lawyers on the orders of Sanaullah and sought registration of a case against the interior minister, CCPO Lahore, DIG operations Lahore, SP Esa Sukheri (North Cantt Lahore), SP Waqar Azeem Kharal, DSP Akber Ali, SHO Asad Abbas and others.

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After hearing the arguments, Additional Sessions Judge Mian Mudassar Umar Bodla ordered the relevant SHO to register a criminal case under Section 154 (information in cognisable cases) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and process the matter "in accordance with the law".

The court order stated that the petitioner and his colleagues were boarding their vehicle when they were pulled over by the police.

It further noted that the petitioners were "baton-charged, humiliated, disgraced and their vehicle was damaged badly" even though they were cooperating with law enforcers.

The court asked the petitioner to approach the relevant SHO with a copy of the court order to proceed with the matter.