The Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Wednesday adjourned to September 15 the proceedings in a petition against arrest of dozens of lawyers during protest against DPO, as the law officer informed the court that the matter has been settled. The law officer said that all the cases against the lawyers have been quashed and DPO Jhang Farooq Mazhar will be transferred before Eid days.
President Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahangir also appeared before the court and said she had talked to IG police and he had assured to transfer the DPO before the Eid days. The counsel of petitioners, however, requested the court not to dispose of the matter and keep it pending. The court, therefore, adjourned the proceedings accordingly and called for report till next date of hearing. The courtroom was overcrowded with highly charged lawyers from Lahore and Jhang.
The petitioner lawyer Muharram Ali pleaded that lawyers of district bar association Jhang were protesting against misbehaviour of DPO Farooq Mazhar. Policemen tortured and arrested dozens of them. He pointed out that police arrested 38 lawyers and registered an FIR against them at Kotwali police station under section 7 of anti-terrorism Act (ATA) and section 365 (kidnapping) of PPC. He alleged that police had shifted them to unknown place and subjecting them to torture. He said that police were still conducting raids at the residence of lawyers and harassing their families.