Media watch: Taking the law to the streets

Local media reflect upon the clashe­s betwee­n lawyer­s and police and how they could have been avoide­d.

Media watch is a daily round-up of key articles featured on news websites, hand-picked by The Express Tribune web staff.

Bar-bench crisis

Rumour and allegations continue to fly thick and fast, with conspiracy theorists claiming political ‘hidden hands’ are at work and the protests and fighting in Lahore being seen through the prism of national politics and even the perceived executive-judiciary tensions in Islamabad. The truth, however, appears to be more prosaic, at least to the extent it can be discerned. Unhappiness among lawyers belonging to the Lahore Bar Association with Judge Zawwar Sheikh’s style and manner of conducting business in his courtroom — some of it valid, much of it not to the neutral observer — was the original trigger of the bar-bench problems. (dawn.com)

Mini tin-pot dictators

Looking at the lawyers’ highhandedness, hooliganism is the word that comes to mind. It is rather unfortunate to see that a profession revered for its restraint and logical arguments has these black sheep amidst them who have given a bad name to the legal fraternity. If these lawyers had a disagreement with Justice Sharif over the transfer of Justice Sheikh, they could have pleaded their case in a sound manner and let the law take its course. Instead they resorted to violent means that is very unbecoming of a profession that ostensibly stands for the rule of law. (dailytimes.com.pk)

Unbecoming behavior

The attack on the office of the CJ and their subsequent protests brought the police in the picture, who used teargas and batons to disperse them. Subsequently, the events turned violent, with both the police and the lawyers severely beating up each other. So far, several protesting lawyers and policemen have been injured, as a result of these clashes. (nation.com.pk)

CJ urges senior lawyers for Lahore issue resolution

Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday said police are beyond any restraints and under nobody’s control, the situation is leading to disruption of the system. Saying ‘sorry’ on the incidents, the IG Punjab said torture could not be justified. The CJ said Judge Zawwar Hussain is honest and capable, adding the Judiciary is virtually suspended as a result of the entire situation. (thenews.com.pk)