The PML-N affiliated lawyers on Thursday disrupted general house meeting of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) to persuade Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign from his office. Minutes after the meeting started, the PML-N affiliated lawyers entered the hall holding placards with the prime minister's picture in their hands and occupied the stage.
They also climbed up the tables and chanted slogans against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan. Their slogans were reciprocated by the lawyers participating in the meeting by chanting "Go Nawaz Go." After the Bar leaders failed to control the rumpus and resume the meeting, they finally decided to lead a protest rally towards GPO Chowk. The protesting lawyers chanted anti-government slogans and blocked the road.
The lawyers extended the rally and marched towards Charing Cross after workers of civil society and opposition parties also joined them. Addressing the rally, President LHCBA Ch Zulfiqar Ali criticized the PML-N lawyers for attacking the general house meeting. He said the lawyers would not quit demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister as the JIT's report vindicated the stance of the legal fraternity.
Zulfiqar Ali said PM Sharif stood disqualified in the light of the report and his resignation was critical for survival of democracy in the country. He urged the parliamentarians to remove their corrupt leader and protect the image of Pakistan. He said the bar would continue to observe weekly protest as decided by an all-Pakistan lawyers representative convention unless the prime minister resigns from the office. Vice President Rashid Lodhi and Secretary Amir Saeed Rawn also spoke on the occasion and condemned the PML-N lawyers for attacking the general house meeting.