Justice Mazoor Malik, while failing to protect an assistant director of anti-corruption department from lawyers' attack observed that "If system keeps on moving in this way, the whole system will be rolled back. Everything would be shattered, "the judge added.
According to detail a group of lawyers, led by Chaudhry Wasim Bhadar advocate, gave a good thrashing to assistant director Anti-corruption Umar Farooq who is investigating a case against former SSP Shafqaat Bhadar a close relative of Wasim Bahadar. The court and the bar office bearers could not save him from the lawyers even on his repeated complaint and ultimately he saved himself from the lawyers after slipping from the scene. Former SSP Shafqaat had approached the Lahore High Court for cancellation of case against him and Justice Manzoor Malik had summoned Umar on Friday.
As Umar came out of the courtroom Wasim accompanied by some of his colleagues abused him and tried to snatch the case record from him. Annoyed by the lawyers' attitude, Farooq went back to court and brought the incident to the knowledge of Justice Malik and "It is highly intimidating. How I could work in such hostile circumstances, he added loudly.
The Judge said, "It is sad. I will take up the issue on next hearing. You may initiate legal course against them." On judge's assurance assistant director agreed to leave court premises but he was confronted with more serious situation.
As he proceeded towards LHC exit door angry lawyers again pounced and punched him severely. His spectacles were also broken during the scuffle. Farooq again approached the judge and started speaking loudly, "There is no respect for us. I want justice." He said both parties were pressuring him but he was doing investigation on merit. Justice Malik regretted that such incidents are happening on regular basis. He called LHC Bar Association president Asghar Gill and asked him to take serious note of this incident. Gill apologised for misbehaving with Farooq. He assured the judge that he would do justice with the matter but only after hearing the other side (lawyers).
Gill took Umar Farooq to the Bar office to resolve the issue. Gill asked Farooq to sit in committee room and went to meet someone. However as Farooq entered into room a bunch of lawyers, sitting there, again attempted to beat him. Faooq managed to save his skin and swiftly left LHC premises along with his assistant.
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