RAWALPINDI – Court proceedings at Rawalpindi’s Judicial Complex and district courts were disrupted on Tuesday after lawyers and judicial staff staged separate protests over an alleged attack on Civil Judge Malik Ali Miran inside his chamber.
On the appeal of the District Bar Association (DBA), lawyers observed a complete strike and boycotted court proceedings. Judicial staff also stopped work to protest the incident.
Police increased security at the Judicial Complex and the old district courts to prevent possible clashes. Visitors were allowed to enter the Judicial Complex only after strict checks at the main entrances.
Situation in the complex
Judicial staff and lawyers’ clerks and assistants held separate rallies inside the complex. Judicial staff chanted slogans against terrorism and hooliganism. Meanwhile, lawyers’ clerks protested against what they described as intimidation and the registration of a false case.
The Bar Clerks Association expressed support for the lawyers and the DBA.
The Bar Clerks Association condemned the terrorism-related case as retaliatory and fabricated, demanded that authorities withdraw the first information report (FIR), and warned that it would continue daily protests if they refused.
The judge’s reader, Tahir Abbas Shah, filed an FIR against seven lawyers, including Aslam Khan Niazi. The case includes charges relating to terrorism, assault and attempted murder.
DBA President Malik Sajid Mahmood and Secretary Qamarul Haq Niazi warned that the arrest of any lawyer would have serious consequences. They described such an arrest as a red line for the bar.
The two office-bearers said the lawyers were willing to negotiate and resolve the dispute through dialogue but would not be blackmailed. They also urged judges to correct their conduct.
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Judges did not make any public statement. However, they reportedly observed an unofficial strike and remained in their chambers instead of hearing cases.
On their instructions, court staff wore black armbands and held a protest rally inside the Judicial Complex. They raised slogans over the incident.
Court staff resumed their duties in courtrooms after 1pm, before the end of the court day. The process for filing new cases also reopened.
The authorised authority of the Lahore High Court also took notice of the incident. During high-level consultations, representatives of the bar and the bench agreed to resolve the matter through dialogue.
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Details of the FIR
According to the complainant, the incident took place during court hours when Aslam Niazi and Muhammad Farooq Aslam attempted to enter the judge’s chamber with other lawyers.
The complainant alleged that the lawyers used abusive language, engaged in physical altercations, and forced their way into the chamber after staff stopped them. Court staff later entered the room as well.
According to the FIR, Aslam Niazi verbally abused the civil judge and loudly questioned why the judge had accepted an application against him.
The judge reportedly replied that he had decided the application in accordance with the law and that an appeal could be filed against the decision.
The complainant further alleged that Niazi threatened the judge with serious consequences and struck him on the head with a glass, hitting him above the left eye. The allegations in the FIR have not been established in court.
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Key points:
- Court proceedings in Rawalpindi were disrupted on Tuesday after an alleged attack on Civil Judge Malik Ali Miran.
- Lawyers observed a strike, while judicial staff staged a separate protest at the Judicial Complex.
- Police tightened security as an FIR was registered against seven lawyers on charges including terrorism, assault and attempted murder.
- The District Bar Association warned of serious consequences if any lawyer was arrested.
- The Lahore High Court took notice of the incident, with the bar and the bench agreeing to resolve the matter through dialogue.
