Lawyers observe strike against police torture

The Lahore High Court (LHC)’s Rawalpindi Bench and the district courts observed a complete strike on the call of the Pakistan Bar Council and the Punjab Bar Council.

The strike was called in protest against the violent arrests of lawyers in Lahore a day earlier. Due to the strike, more than 8,000 cases could not be heard in the sessions, civil, magistrate, family and special courts throughout the district. Consequently, the hearings were adjourned without any progress.

Moreover, the hearings of family matters of women who had come from remote areas also could not be carried out due to the strike. The bustling courthouses, which remain operative until 4pm, seemed deserted at 9am.

The office bearers of the high court and district bar associations restricted lawyers from attending court. As a result, the courtrooms were left devoid of lawyers in the early morning. All unheard cases were adjourned and rescheduled on new dates.

The judiciary did not register new bail applications and shut down the diary branch citing strike, which created difficulties for lawyers and bail seekers. Meanwhile, 219 prisoners brought from the Adiala Jail were also immediately sent back.

A complete strike was also observed in six districts and 27 tehsil courts of the Rawalpindi Division. The district lawyers also organised a protest rally.

Lawyer leaders Malik Jawad Khalid and Intizar Mehdi Shah have declared that the strike and protest will persist if their demands are not met.

Published in The Express Tribune May 10^th, 2024.