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Lawyers try to enter Pakistan's Punjab Assembly amid protest
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) also joined lawyers in protests to mourn the death of Rana Khalid, president Daska Bar and a PTI leader during police firing.
- PUBLISHED: Wed 27 May 2015, 10:05 PM UPDATED: Wed 29 Nov 2023, 3:10 PM
Islamabad - Angry lawyers tried to break through the gate of Punjab Assembly in Lahore as they continued staging protests on Tuesday across the province for the second day after two lawyers were slain in Daska district of Sialkot.
The furore erupted after Daska Station House Officer (SHO) Shehzad Warraich opened fire on the lawyers protesting near the Daska police station on Monday, resulting in the deaths of Daska Bar Association (DBA) President Rana Khalid Abbas and Advocate Irfan Chauhan.
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Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) also joined lawyers in protests to mourn the death of Rana Khalid, president Daska Bar and a PTI leader during police firing.
Early in the day, the protesting lawyers also set the security shade outside the Punjab Assembly on fire. A heavy contingent of Rangers was immediately deployed outside the Punjab Assembly to disperse them. The protesters also tore the banners of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and smashed windows of a police van and turned it upside down.
In Faisalabad, rallies were held in various parts of the city and the protesters raised slogans against police near the Civil Line police station.
The enraged lawyers also broke through the main gate of the District Police Office (DPO) Gujranwala earlier in the day. Police fired tire gas at the protesters as they also hurled stones at the DPO office Silakot.
As the lawyers demanded arrest of the Daska SHO, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif confirmed that the government has taken swift action over the incident.
The law and order situation in Lahore has deteriorated, due to angry protests by lawyers.
After a short pause, the protests on Mall Road restarted while GPO crossing was closed for traffic.
There was no police force present on Mall Road. Policemen on the scene left to save themselves when protesters turned violent.
Lawyers surrounded an Elite Forces vehicle at the scene, taking to the mobile with sticks, smashing its windows.
Initially, protesters tried to set it on fire. After vandalising the vehicle, a handful of protesters turning it upside down. According to a senior bar member, a 'rebel group' of lawyers of the Lahore High Court went on the rampage.
A lone policeman present at the scene was nabbed by protesters, who accused him of spying on them, and beat him up.
Protesters were raising slogans against the government, calling for the arrest and punishment of the Daska police station SHO inspector Shahzad Warraich.
In view of the ugly situation in the city, the Metro Bus service from MAO College to Gajjumata was suspended causing inconvenience to the commuters.
Calls for protest came from the Punjab Bar Council and the Lahore Bar Association.
news@khaleejtimes.com (With inputs from Onine)