The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) have declared a national strike across all courts for Thursday. This action, encompassing the Supreme Court, high courts, and lower judiciary, aims to unite the legal community against recent incidents of police brutality in Punjab.
SCBA President Shahzad Shaukat and Secretary Syed Ali Imran met with the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, urging him to intervene. Despite their efforts, the Chief Justice expressed that the Supreme Court should not involve itself in high court affairs.
Lawyers will not attend court sessions but will organize protests to highlight their grievances. These actions follow the violent police response to Lahore lawyers protesting alleged unlawful court divisions.
PBC Vice-Chairman Riazat Ali Sahar condemned the police’s actions, emphasizing the right to peaceful protest. He criticized the harsh police tactics as violations of both duty and discipline.
Furthermore, Sahar called for decisive government action against the officers involved, advocating for strict penalties to prevent future misconduct. He also voiced disappointment with the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) for not amicably resolving the issues, which he believes contributed to the conflict.
The SCBA leadership reported that many lawyers were injured or detained during the protests, demanding immediate medical care and release for those affected. They criticized the LHC Chief Justice’s handling of the situation and warned that ongoing police brutality could lead to a broader national movement.
