Students’ protest: ‘Prosecute policemen for beating teachers’

Education secretary summoned for today’s hearing.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has directed for registration of a criminal case against police officials involved in beating teachers and students during a protest in front of the Punjab assembly on December 8.

It directed the provincial Education secretary to appear before the court on Tuesday (today).

Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhary issued the order in a suo motu hearing on Monday.

The chief justice directed Zahid Shaikh, the Professors and Lecturers Association president, to submit a written reply during Tuesday’s hearing stating his reasons for leading students to the Punjab Assembly premises and damaging public and private property during the protest.

Earlier, DIG (Operations) Rao Sardar, in his written report submitted that the police action against the protesters was in self defence.

He said that when the protesters tried to cross the security barriers and broke into the Punjab Assembly premises, policemen had to act to ensure security.

The Lahore High Court also allowed the owner of a private bus, burnt by the protesters on The Mall, to become a party in the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2010.