Violent clashes between lawyers, police outside Lahore High Court

Violent clashes have been observed outside the Lahore High Court between police and lawyers.

The clashes reportedly began at around noon on Wednesday when police tried to stop lawyers from entering the court premises.

Images broadcast on TV screens showed police in riot gear engage with lawyers. They used baton and water cannons. They also fired tear gas shells.

At least one lawyer has been arrested, Ehsan Ahmed of Aaj News reported. Police also brought prison vans to the scene indicating that they were ready to arrest a large number of people.

The clashes disrupted road traffic near the Lahore High Court. There were traffic delays on the Mall Road and other roads nearby.

Lawyers tried to removed the barriers set up by the police.

Protest against division of courts
Lawyers have planned a massive protest against what is being dubbed as division of judiciary’. Most of the courts worked at a single place in Lahore called the Awan-e-Adil (House of Justice). However, the judiciary recently decided to transfer some of the courts to other locations in the city including Model Town and Raiwind.

Groups of lawyers haven been protesting the administrative decision. They are demanding the Lahore High Court chief justice – who is the administrative head of the judiciary in the province – to change his decision, according to Ehsan Ahmad who said the Punjab government had no role in the dispute.

Some of the protesters carried placard reading ‘Judicial dictatorship rejected’.