One would have imagined that our ‘defenders of the law’ would have felt profound disgust at the actions of their compatriots on Monday when hundreds of black coats forcibly entered and ransacked the courtrooms of Islamabad High Court (IHC). This is not the first time the so-called custodians of the law have displayed such behavior as we have seen and witnessed doctors, patients being beaten judges being locked up, even assaulted, by lawyers in the country.
Lawyers vandalism in IHC
Several lawyers forcibly entered and ransacked the courtroom of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday and forced judges to leave their courtrooms.
The lawyers were protesting against razing of their chambers in the district and sessions court by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) conducted an anti-encroachment operation. The premises of the Islamabad High Court have been sealed after the incident while all lawyers and the public have been barred from entering the court.
On this occasion, they raised slogans against the Islamabad administration and the CDA and the Chief Justice who was confined to his chambers for several hours. They also entered the office of senior judges.
Illegal chambers in the premises of the court
The CDA razed illegal structures built on the premises of the District and Sessions Court on Monday morning. The CDA enforcement team recovered the public land in Islamabad after demolishing the illegal chambers built in the premises of the court.
The CDA said 350 acres of government land have been recovered in the last week during an anti-encroachment operation in Sector I-15/4 of the federal capital. CDA said it was able to recover the sector after 16 years, adding that those who interfered in the CDA operation were arrested.
The authority said the land mafia had occupied the land for years and constructed a house, boundary wall, shades for animals, and other buildings. The CDA enforcement department deputy director, assistant directors and other staff took part in the operation.
Cases lodged against the lawyers
The federal police have registered a case against the lawyers who stormed the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The IHC said that cases have been registered against the lawyers who stormed the high court and inflicted damage to the premises.
In this regard, the federal police have started carrying out raids in different parts of the city to arrest the lawyers who were involved in the violent protest. Almost thirty-four lawyers have been booked by police.
In addition, contempt of court proceedings initiated against those found guilty of the offense. The IHC stated that it had sent a reference to the Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) to suspend the licenses of the lawyers who were involved in the protest.
Other shameful episodes
In December 2019, a mob of lawyers stormed the Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore. Not only were hospital staff beaten and lifesaving hospital apparatus destroyed, but some seriously ill patients died during the shameful occurrence, probably as a direct result of the turmoil.
Earlier, furious lawyers stormed the new judicial complex on Mattital Road in Multan, smashing windows and doors and mirrors with sticks, in a dispute over the shifting of the courts for a second consecutive day on 13 December 2017. They were incensed that the new judicial complex, which began functioning in Nov 2017, does not house their chambers.
In 2015, lawyers in Lahore were attempted to break into the Punjab Assembly, having so far succeeded in setting fire to the security shed in front of the Punjab Assembly gate. The Punjab Bar Council had called for a strike on May 27 and 28,2015 to condemn the Daska shootings.
Protesters had been sloganeering against the government, demanding the arrest and punishment of the Daska SHO who was believed to be responsible for the deaths of two lawyers in Daska.
Are lawyers becoming the most disorderly segment of society?
Lawyers’ profession demands restraint and deliberation, not the kind of insanity we witnessed on Monday and in the past. We have seen and witnessed some of the worst illegal behaviour in reality from those who are supposed to lead us on what the law says.
Terrifyingly, some black sheep in the field today are among the most disorderly segment of the country. On the other hand, several lawyers still support the truth. They have been fighting for the rule of law for a long time and are also making great sacrifices.
Disciplinary action from the police and professional bodies is essential to foil anything of this nature occurring in the future. The motherland stands shaken by the event. For the moment, one can only feel a deep sense of fear at the kind of people we – and especially our young – have become. Nation, senior advocates and judges have demanded a judicial probe into Monday’s incident, which is fair enough. However, is this crop of lawyers prepared to accept its results?
