Lawyers observe boycott at City Courts

Members of the legal fraternity on Thursday observed a complete boycott of the legal proceedings at the City Courts to protest the “brutality” inflicted by the Punjab police on their colleagues in Lahore.

Lawyers didn’t appear before any of the courts on the strike call given by the Karachi BarAssociation. They blocked the entrances to the judicial complex, preventing litigants from entering the premises. Under-trial prisoners could not be brought from jail for the hearing of their cases.

A general body meeting of the KBA was held with its president Amir Nawaz Warraich in the chair. The meeting denounced the Punjab police’s use of force, tear gas and batons on peaceful lawyers and expressed solidarity with the Lahore High Court Bar Association and the Lahore Bar Association.

It announced observation of a “half-day” boycott of the legal proceedings today as well. Addressing a press conference later afternoon, Warraich said: “We stood by the Lahore Bar and Lahore High Court Bar.” He announced that the KBA would observe a half-day boycott every day until the notification regarding the shifting of the courts is not withdrawn.

He demanded that the IG Punjab be removed from the post and an FIR be lodged against cops who resorted to use of force against lawyers. KBA General Secretary Ikhtiar Ali Channa said Thursday’s boycott sent out a message that the legal fraternity was united, calling for the decision to divide the courts be taken back.