Rising tensions: After clashing with Quetta police, lawyers offer themselves for arrest

Quetta police register cases against 150 lawyers under Anti-Terrorism Act after 6 officers were beaten up by lawyers.


Shezad Baloch May 12, 2014
File photo of lawyers protesting in Quetta against the police. PHOTO: FILE/ EXPRESS

QUETTA: Balochistan Bar Association (BBA) and Bar Council have demanded that a commission be formed to investigate the clashes that occurred between lawyers and the police on April 23 in Quetta.

Addressing a news conference on Monday in Quetta, lawyers have announced to offer themselves for arrest.

“The lawyers who were implicated in the anti-terrorism cases are willing to offer their arrest. Police should stop violating the sanctity of their homes by carrying out raids,” said Malik Bilal Anwar Kasi, President of BBA.

Quetta police have registered cases against 150 lawyers under the Anti-Terrorism Act. At least six police personnel were beaten up by lawyers protesting at two different public places on Jinnah Road and Shahrah-e-Iqbal near the city courts in Quetta.

The lawyers claim police had first brutally beaten up a lawyer when he was entering the district court. The police meanwhile say that the lawyers had attacked a police mobile during their protest demonstration and beat up police personnel.

“We met senior police officers for negotiations. The Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Abdul Razzaq Cheema, DIG Investigation Syed Mobin Ahmed and other senior officials assured that the dispute will be resolved peacefully. However, police are still conducting raids at the residence of lawyers,” he said.

On the other hand, Quetta Police Chief said legal action would be taken against those lawyers who had beaten up police personnel in public places.

“We have the footage, and action would be taken against the responsible,” he added.

Two lawyers were arrested last week and had been granted bail. No more arrests have been made until this report was filed.

COMMENTS (3)

Raza | 10 years ago | Reply

Its shame for these lawyers. I have seen video footage of lawyers beating up Police officers in public. It is not the very first incident where they are commiting offence. Such behvior should not be tolerated.

unbelievable | 10 years ago | Reply

In most countries these guys would lose their license to practice law in a heartbeat. Pakistan is the only country on the planet were you read about attorneys praising OBL, beating up judges, beating up fellow attorney's, and now beating up police.

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