Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR)
against 39 lawyers — including Lahore High Court Bar Association-Multan
President Sher Zaman Qureshi — for vandalising Multan's judicial complex
during a protest, DawnNews reported on Thursday.
On
Wednesday, lawyers in Multan had continued their protest from the day
before over the shifting of the courts and entered the sessions court
after a scuffle with the police. The lawyers had stormed the judicial complex on Mattital Road, smashing windows and doors and mirrors with sticks.
The FIR, a copy of which available with Dawn,
was registered at the Bahauddin Zakariya police station on the
complaint of Superintendent of police (SP) of judicial complex Safdar
Ayub. According to the complainant, 50 lawyers led by Qureshi entered
the building "armed with firearms, sticks and petrol" and attacked the
district session judge, vandalising his office by damaging the furniture
and machinery.
He further alleged that the lawyers
threatened and physically abused the police officials who tried to stop
the protest. The SP also accused the protesters of threatening the staff
of the judicial complex when they tried to resist.
The FIR was registered under clause 7 of the
Anti-Terrorism Act along with Sections 16 of Maintenance of Public Order
as well as 123 (b), 353, 186, 452 etc.
