Lawyers, media persons vow protests till cops’ arrests
SADIQABAD: A joint meeting of lawyers and journalists held in Sadiqabad condemned the alleged police torture on them at a police station and demanded that the chief justice of Pakistan and the Punjab chief minister should take a notice of the “act of terror” committed by the police.
Meanwhile, the lawyers’ strike continued for fourth consecutive day in Sadiqabad against the alleged police torture on lawyers and journalists at Kot Sabzal police station while the Press Club president said the protest would continue until the arrests of the cops and their companions who thrashed them.
Moreover, at an emergency meeting held at the press club, the club president warned that if the administration reneged on their pledges made regarding the arrests, the journalist in consultation with the Bar Association would devise the future strategy. “We condemn the police torture on the media persons and the lawyers at the police station,” said Club President Rana Arshad Javed, Secretary General Shakeel, Senior Vice President Ejaz Hussain and dozens of other office-bearers. A number of members were also present. They said that the Press Club always played a positive role but the police had committed an act of terror.
High Court Bar Association Bahawalpur Senior Vice President Altaf Hussain announced that the courts would be boycotted against the non-arrests of the accused. Likewise, the PML-F Punjab Secretary Information Tariq Mehmood condemned the police torture and termed media persons and lawyers the people’s representatives. He also assured the victims of his party’s full cooperation.
Similarly, All Pakistan Private Seeds Association district president said that Khalil Ahamd and Pesticides Dealers Association president Farhad Ali also condemned the police torture.
Earlier, on the call of the Sadiqabad Bar Association, the lawyers boycotted the legal proceedings in the courts against the alleged manhandling of journalists and the black coats. The bar held an emergency meeting at the bar room and reviewed the present situation after the incident. A resolution passed at the meeting, appealed to the Sadiqabad assistant superintendent of police to arrest the police officials and other persons included in the manhandling of the lawyers and journalists within twenty four hours.
Moreover, a lawyers’ delegation also met with District and Sessions Judge Iftikhar Ahmad and Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Aslam and discussed the present situation regarding the incident. Later, the D&SJ summoned the ASP Tanveer Ahmad at the A&SJ Muhammad Aslam Khan’s chamber and directed him to arrest the accused in 24 hours and present them in the court. The ASP was also directed to recover the cash and mobile phones snatched during the incident. On the occasion, the ASP informed the judge that the former had directed the Sabzal police station house officer to arrest the accused. However, the lawyers on the occasion suggested that sections regarding terrorism should also be included in the FIR.
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