LHC disposes of pleas seeking cancellation of FIRs against lawyers

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday disposed of petitions seeking cancellation of FIRs registered against lawyers in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology attack case after the inspector general of police and the home secretary assured the court that the arrested lawyers would be dealt in accordance with the law.

The court directed Punjab's top police official that the faces of accused lawyers will not be covered when they are presented in court and directed both sides to nominate their representatives to find out an amicable solution to the dispute. Following the direction, lawyers appointed four representatives. Pursuant to the court order, the chief secretary, the home secretary and the IGP appeared before the bench comprising Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem. The bench summoned the chief secretary, the home secretary and the IGP along with three senior lawyers in the chamber to resolve the issue.

Earlier, IGP Shoaib Dastagir told the bench that the police are acting in accordance with the law and that the case is being investigated as per the set standards. "To assume that the police targeted a specific group is incorrect," the IGP said.

"The PIC attack is unfortunate, there is no space for such misadventures in this country," the high court remarked. "Why were the faces of the lawyers covered when they were produced in court," the court asked to which the IGP replied: "The police acted against those persons who were arrested on the spot."

"The perpetrators should face the consequences, why were those bothered who were not involved?" the court questioned. "Why had the police not acted earlier when lawyers had covered a six miles distance to reach the hospital," the bench asked to which the IGP said the lawyers were peaceful until they reached the hospital. "Did the police allow them to protest at the PIC," the judge asked to which the police chief replied that the police had not granted any such permission.

"Why didn't police stop the lawyers from protesting at the hospital? The Police Department should accept its failure," the bench remarked.

"The Police used teargas to disperse the mob," the advocate general told the bench.

"Should teargas be used at such a place?" the high court questioned. The bench also inquired how many people died in the incident to which the home secretary replied that three people lost their lives.