Police baton charge, fire tear gas as lawyers protest outside LHC

Police baton charged and fired tear gas at lawyers protesting outside the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday, Aaj News reported.

The lawyers, including members from the Lahore Bar Association, chanting slogans, staged a protest, demanding the dismissal of a terrorism case filed against fellow lawyers.

As per initial details, the protesting lawyers tried to push against the fenced barricade outside the court. In order to stop them, police personnel, in riot gear, blocked their way to the court’s main gate.

ATC denies further physical remand of lawyer

However, the demonstration turned violent and the police baton charged and fired tear gas to disperse the protesters.

The police were also seen using water cannons to stop the lawyers from moving forward.

Footage broadcast on television showed a large number of riot personnel and lawyers clashing.

One lawyer was also arrested, Aaj News reported.

Maryam asks IG to avoid using force

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif asked Punjab police to avoid using force against the lawyers and also directed the latter to resolve their matters with the LHC.

“I have directed IG Police to refrain from using force against the lawyers. Lawyers must also resolve their matters with Lahore High Court amicably. For the safety of the citizens of Lhr, confrontation should be avoided,” She wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Police says it “maintained law and order”

In its statement on X, Lahore police said calls had been made by the lawyers for “rioting, arson, and vandalism” in the premises of the High Court.

“The police maintained the law and order situation within the premises of the High Court,” the statement read.