Lawyers, police clash outside SHC during protest against 27th Amendment

Officers' uniforms torn amid intense sloganeering; Bar assures action against those involved in violence

Chaos ensued outside the Sindh High Court on Saturday as a lawyers' rally against the 27th Constitutional Amendment led to violent clashes with police, leaving officers injured and causing traffic gridlock on roads leading to the court.

The confrontation began when police officers attempted to stop lawyers from entering the high court premises as the rally reached the gates, according to DIG South Asad Raza. The rally was later allowed inside with permission from lawyers already present in the court.

However, the situation spiralled out of control. Some lawyers assaulted police officers, the DIG said, adding that officers' uniforms were torn amid intense sloganeering as the confrontation spilled from inside the court onto the street. The clash also caused a traffic jam on the road leading to the court.

DIG Raza said he was writing to the High Court Registrar to ensure the sanctity of the court is not violated in such a manner. "We have asked the Bar to take action against lawyers who assaulted police," he said, adding that the Bar has assured action against those involved.

Meanwhile, lawyers defend their peaceful intent. Lawyers present at the scene maintained that the demonstration was to safeguard the Constitution. One protesting lawyer stated, “the court is our home and we have come to peacefully protest to protect the institution that we love.” He added, “we are not slaves but nationalists who will remain at the forefront”.

The legal fraternity has been conducting strikes and rallies across Pakistan since the amendment was signed into law on November 13, arguing that the bill undermines judicial independence and concentrates power in the hands of the executive.

Nationwide resistance

Just a day earlier, police blocked a protest by the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) and PTI outside the Karachi Press Club, detaining at least nine people. TTAP had declared Friday a "Black Day" against the amendment, with protests held in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkur, Larkana, Umerkot, Ghotki and other districts.

The Karachi Bar Association has been observing strikes since the amendment's passage. SHCBA General Secretary Mirza Sarfaraz told reporters last week that the 27th Amendment had "abolished the Supreme Court in effect."

Read: 27th Amendment throws SHC into disarray

The Lahore High Court Bar Association held a meeting condemning the amendment, with LBA President Mubashir Rehman announcing a rally. Lawyers at the meeting declared a "complete boycott of the Federal Constitutional Court."

Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah resigned in protest hours after the amendment became law, while Lahore High Court Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza also tendered his resignation in protest.