Courts paralysed after judge assault

Lawyers, clerks and judicial staff staged separate protests

RAWALPINDI:

Judicial proceedings at Rawalpindi's Judicial Complex and district courts were disrupted on Tuesday as lawyers, their clerks and judicial staff staged separate protests following an alleged attack on Civil Judge Malik Ali Miran inside his chamber.

On the appeal of the District Bar Association, lawyers observed a complete strike and boycotted court proceedings, while judicial staff also stopped work in protest over the incident.

The protests prompted heightened security at the Judicial Complex and the old district courts. Additional police personnel were deployed to deal with any possible confrontation between the two sides.

Visitors were allowed into the Judicial Complex only after strict checking at the main entrances.

Judicial staff and lawyers' clerks and assistants held separate rallies inside the Judicial Complex. Judicial staff chanted slogans against terrorism and hooliganism, while lawyers' clerks protested against what they described as intimidation and the registration of a false case.

The Bar Clerks Association expressed full support for the lawyers and the District Bar Association, condemning the terrorism-related case as retaliatory and fabricated. It demanded the withdrawal of the FIR and warned that daily protests would continue if the case was not withdrawn.

An FIR was registered against seven lawyers, including Aslam Khan Niazi, on the complaint of the judge's reader, Tahir Abbas Shah. The case includes charges relating to terrorism, assault and attempted murder. No lawyer had been arrested, and the FIR was sealed.

District Bar Association President Malik Sajid Mahmood and Secretary Qamarul Haq Niazi said the arrest of any lawyer would have serious consequences, declaring that the arrest of a lawyer was a red line for the bar.

They said the lawyers were willing to negotiate and resolve the matter through dialogue but would not be blackmailed. They also called on judges to correct their conduct.

Judges remained silent publicly but reportedly observed an unofficial strike, remaining in their chambers instead of hearing cases.

On their instructions, court staff wore black armbands and held a protest rally inside the Judicial Complex, raising slogans over the incident.

Court staff returned to their duties in courtrooms after 1pm, before the end of the court day, and the process for filing new cases was reopened.

However, hearings in cases scheduled for the morning had largely been adjourned, with fresh dates given to litigants. The courts had become largely empty of visitors after 9.30am.

The authorised authority of the Lahore High Court also took notice of the incident. During high-level consultations between the bar and the bench, it was decided that the matter would be resolved through dialogue.

 

Details of FIR

According to the complainant, during court hours, Aslam Niazi and Muhammad Farooq Aslam attempted to enter the judge's chamber along with other lawyers. When they were stopped, they allegedly used abusive language, engaged in physical altercations and forced their way inside. Court staff subsequently entered the chamber as well.

The FIR alleges that Aslam Niazi verbally abused the civil judge and loudly questioned why an application against him had been accepted.

The judge reportedly replied that he had decided the application in accordance with the law and that an appeal could be filed against the decision.

The complainant alleged that Aslam Niazi then threatened the judge with serious consequences and struck him on the head with a glass, hitting him above the left eye.