LAHORE: The atmosphere outside the Lahore High Court (LHC) Wednesday turned chaotic after a clash between the police and lawyers who were protesting against the division of civil courts and terrorism cases against their colleagues.
The lawyers, during their protest, tried entering the high court and removing the barricades around its premises. They also threw stones at the police, as they attempted to blocked their way.
In order to disperse the charged lawyers at the GPO Chowk, the police resorted to baton-charge, started shelling and used water cannons to stop the lawyers from moving forward.
A heavy contingent of police has been deployed at judges’ gate of the LHC while the police have also arrested two of the protesting lawyers.
Meanwhile, traffic flow at Mall Road and adjoining roads has also been severely affected.
At least two to three dozen lawyers are peacefully protesting outside the court, while the police have warned them against moving ahead. The police, however, said they will arrest if the lawyers use violence in the process.
The local administration was aware of the protest’s conduct a day earlier, while no one from the authorities arrived at the spot for talks with the lawyers.
The lawyers, on the other hand, are insistent to be allowed into the court’s premises and are chanting slogans against the police stopping them from entering.
More to follow…
