Lawyers in Karachi, and elsewhere in Sindh, on Saturday protested against the onslaught by the law enforcement personnel on print and electronic media in Islamabad on Friday.
Work at District Courts and Sindh High Court remained suspended as the lawyers boycotted proceedings for the sixth day consecutive. Strong police contingents could bee seen guarding the courts to avoid any untoward incident. Along with the boycott of the courts, lawyers observed a token hunger strike, as well.
To ease the prevailing tension and persuade the advocates to call off strike, attend court proceedings, and leave the issue of reference against the Chief Justice to the Supreme Judicial Council, Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim had invited lawyers to Chief Minister House for a meeting. Initially, this invitation was turned down by the, but a handful of lawyers decided to go to CM House.
In the morning, on Saturday, police raided offices of the lawyers against whom FIRs were registered on the insistence of Sindh Chief Minister. Sources said that the raiding police ransacked the offices, removed files, maltreated the staff, and abused some of them.
Talking to Business Recorder, Sindh Bar Council Human Right Committee Chairman Aqil Lodhi, against whom FIR was registered on Friday, said that his office had been searched by the police, and his staff was maltreated by them.
He said that police was raiding different places to arrest him. Similar action was being taken in respect of other advocates against whom FIRs had been registered, he added. Sindh Bar Council has decided to continue its protest on Monday, March 19.
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