Lawyers’ aerial firing stokes fear after bar election win

Arrest of suspect triggers tense standoff

DIJKOT:

Lawyers celebrating their victory in the District Bar Association elections engaged in aerial firing.

The gunfire created panic among government officials and citizens present in nearby offices. Upon receiving the information, police officers, including DSP Civil Line Amir Waheed and SHO Civil Line Sub-Inspector Tariq Amir, reached the scene.

They apprehended a lawyer involved in aerial firing, triggering a tense standoff.

A large group of lawyers then surrounded the police officers and escorted them to the District Bar Secretary's room for negotiations.

After discussions, the police released the detained lawyer, who was armed. Despite the police presence, the lawyers continued their aerial firing. Subsequently, the police officers withdrew from the scene.

Read: Nine injured due to celebratory firing in Hyderabad

Secretary Rana Murtaza Hakeem and Joint Secretary Shahid Waraich, winners of the election, were being welcomed by lawyers at the District Kachehri, Quaid-e-Azam hall. However, the celebratory atmosphere turned chaotic when some lawyers resorted to firing in the air.

The sound of gunfire spread fear among government officials and citizens in the vicinity.

When contacted, DSP Civil Line Aamir Waheed stated that action is being taken against those involved in the aerial firing. SP Lyallpur Town Rana Rehman Qadir reported that three cases had already been registered against the lawyers for similar incidents, with additional cases underway.

The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Kotwali police station, and investigations are ongoing.

Earlier, in Lahore’s Islampura police lodged an FIR against 40lawyers who resorted to aerial firing after winning annual elections of the Lahore Bar Association.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2024.