District bar brought shame to whole institution: LHC

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought personal appearance of the Punjab chief secretary, the home secretary and the inspector general of police on petitions against ‘reckless’ arrests of lawyers in the wake of an attack on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi sought assistance from the advocate general and expected appearance of the PIC head along with senior faculty members for Wednesday (today). However, the bench observed that the grievances of the PIC officials would be heard in chamber. Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem was the other member at the bench that took up the petitions in a jam-packed court.

Pakistan Bar Council members Azam Nazir Tarar and Ahsan Bhoon, Lahore High Court Bar Association President Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhry, its former president Asghar Ali Gill and other leaders represented the legal fraternity.

The bench, however, expressed displeasure over the presence of Lahore Bar Association President Asim Cheema with an observation that the district bar is responsible for bringing shame to the whole institution.

Justice Naqvi said the LBA president should not have come to the court. “We feel ashamed introducing ourselves as judges,” regretted the bench, adding that only a handful of lawyers are bringing a bad name to the whole legal fraternity.

“What are you doing against these lawyers?” the judge asked the bar leaders. Tarar said the bar has taken cognizance of the matter. However, he said those having no concern with the incident have been arrested by the police and the real culprits are still at large. He pointed out that two lawyers were arrested from their chambers in District Khushab. Gill told the bench that the LBA president was against the protest outside the PIC, however, some women lawyers provoked him and offered “bangles” to him.

“Did this affect his manhood?” asked Justice Naqvi and there was a laughter in the courtroom. The judge expressed his resolved to protect the sanctity of “black-coat”. The bench will resume the hearing on Wednesday (today).