Lawyers go rogue after LHC order to arrest Multan bar president

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Monday became a battle ground between the riot police and the protesting lawyers after a full bench ordered RPO Multan to arrest Multan Bar President and produce him on next hearing in a contempt of court case.

A full bench of the LHC headed by Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing the contempt of court case against High Court Bar Association Multan President Sher Zaman who did not appear before the bench.

The LHC then issued arrest warrants and directed the RPO Multan to produce the lawyer leader. After the court order, the lawyers protested against the warrants and demanded the orders be withdrawn. Protesting lawyers gathered in large numbers and broke the judges’ gate of the LHC. Riot police resorted to tear gas and water cannon to disperse them.

Contempt case

Last month, LHCBA Multan President Zaman Qureshi along with a lawyer allegedly misbehaved Justice Qasim Khan, closed door of a courtroom, ripped off his nameplate — an incident which was termed an attack on the LHC.

The chief justice took serious notice and withdrew all the judges from Multan to the Principal Seat. Later, however, the CJ restored Multan bench on lawyers’ request.

The CJ had also formed a committee comprising Justice Muhammad Yawar Ali and Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi to provide an opportunity to the bar to resolve the matter. However, no one from the bar approached the committee. Later, the five-member larger bench was constituted to proceed against the delinquent advocates under the law of contempt and High Court Rules and Orders for suspension and/or removal of their practice of the LHC.