Daska killings: Protesting lawyers attempt to break through Punjab Assembly

Protests spread across Punjab, dissenting lawyers demand arrest of the Daska SHO

SIALKOT/ LAHORE: Angry lawyers tried to break through the gate of Punjab Assembly in Lahore as they continued staging protests on Tuesday across the province for the second day after two lawyers were slain in Daska district of Sialkot. 

The furore erupted after Daska Station House Officer (SHO) Shehzad Warraich had opened fire on the lawyers protesting near the Daska police station on May 25, resulting in the deaths of Daska Bar Association (DBA) President Rana Khalid Abbas and Advocate Irfan Chauhan. Lawyers Jahanzeb Shahid and Samiullah Malhi were among the two injured.

Read: Clashes erupt across Punjab after killing of lawyers in Sialkot

According to reports, protesting lawyers torched the Daska city police station and the assistant commissioner’s office, and damaged police vans in Gujranwala, Multan and Lahore yesterday (May 25). They also thrashed police officials and anyone they could get their hands on, including members of the media and ordinary citizens.

Read: Showdown in Punjab: Slaying of two lawyers sparks fury on streets

Early today, the dissenting lawyers also set the security shade outside the Punjab Assembly on fire. A heavy contingent of Rangers was immediately deployed outside the Punjab Assembly to disperse them. The protesters also tore the banners of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and smashed windows of a police van.



An Express News screengrab.

While in Faisalabad, rallies were held in various parts of the city and the protesters chanted slogans against police near the Civil Line police station. 

The aggrieved lawyers also broke through the main gate of the Deputy Police Office (DPO) Gujranwala early today. Police fired tire gas at the protesters as they also hurled stones at the DPO office Silakot.

As the lawyers demanded arrest of the Daska SHO, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif confirmed that the government has taken swift action over the incident.

Addressing a high-level meeting in Lahore via a video link today, the Punjab chief minister said a Joint Investigation Team was constituted to investigate into the incident, Radio Pakistan reported. “Lahore High Court has also been requested to inquire into the attack,” he added while condemning the lawyers' killing.

After attending the funeral prayers of the slain lawyers held early morning, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Chaudhry Sarwar said the party will also stage country-wide protests during the day. “A case must be registered against the Terrorism Act, ” Sarwar added.

‘No judicial inquiry’

A day after CM Punjab announced to conduct judicial inquiry into the incident, the government has announced to withdraw its decision.

It said that the JIT constituted on Tuesday will continue investigation into the incident.