Over 10 SHOs apply for leave as tension between police and lawyers continues in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Five days have passed but the tension between lawyers and police in Hyderabad, which started after the arrest of a lawyer, has not subsided.

According to an FIR registered by the Hyderabad police, Advocate Ali Raza was stopped a few days ago by the Bhittia Nangar police for having fancy number plates and tinted glasses, and fled away leaving his Mahran car, which was challaned.

After that, a group of lawyers reached police station and warned the police to withdraw the FIR Meanwhile, the Hyderabad High Court Bar Association President Ayaz Tanyo claimed that not only an FIR was filed against the lawyer who belongs to Tando Allahyar, but he was also detained at the police station. Later on Monday, he was released on Ayaz's personal bail.

After the incident, lawyers of Hyderabad demanded the suspension of Bhittai Nangar SHO Asghar Tunyo. As SSP Farrukh Lanjar did not meet the lawyer’s demand, the Hyderabad District Bar Association passed a resolution condemning the lawyer’s arrest.

On Tuesday, a large number of lawyers from the district and high court bars forcefully opened the main door of the Hyderabad SSP office and started protesting on its premises. Many lawyers stood on police vehicles and shouted slogans during the protest, which prompted police personnel present at the office to lock their rooms from inside.

The protesting lawyers insisted on meeting SSP Lanjar but he ignored them. In the night hours, Hyderabad DIG Tariq Razak Dharejo arrived to negotiate with the lawyers and assured the lawyers’ leaders that their demands would be met, after which the protest sit-in that had lasted for more than 12 hours ended

According to the lawyers’ leaders, DIG Dharejo would go to the District Bar Association today (Thursday) and announce the approval of the lawyers' demands. However, on Wednesday, more than 10 SHOs and several officials of the Hyderabad police applied for a month's leave, refusing to work in the current circumstances.

DIG Dharejo visited the SSP office on Wednesday afternoon to raise the morale of the police and asked everyone to take back the applications and work according to the law. Speaking to the media on the occasion, the DIG said the Sindh inspector general of police and home minister had taken notice of the entire situation.

He said that despite the law violation, the Hyderabad police acted patiently. Speaking to the media, SSP Lanjar said that Raza was not the only person booked over fancy number plates as around 50 FIRs had been filed against fancy number plates in the last few days because no one was above the law.