Islamabad, Feb 8(UNI) The Islamabad High Court on Monday witnessed protests and violence as lawyers barged into the building, damaged property and created havoc inside it.
The lawyers were protesting against the destruction of their chambers by the Capital Development Authority.
The lawyers barged into the block housing the chief justice's office and broke windows and chanted slogans against IHC CJ Athar Minallah outside his chamber. The chief justice was inside his chamber at the time. Witnesses said that the special security police troops were not present when the lawyers entered the block and only arrived much later, Dawn reported.
Security people managed to evacuate the women employees from the Chief Justice block even as other IHC judges arrived at the scene. Rangers and Counter-Terrorism Department officials were also deployed along with police to bring the situation under control.
The lawyers also verbally clashed with the Rangers officers, when they arrived there with other officials at the court's chief justice block.
Proceedings in the district courts as well as in the IHC were suspended and petitioners were barred from entering the building. Even the road outside the court was blocked for traffic. The lawyers also misbehaved with journalists who were present on the scene and were recording videos.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani and IHC Bar Association President Haseeb Chaudhry urged the rioting lawyers to opt for dialogue.
The lawyers said that they "will not talk until our chambers are restored". They also claimed that some of their colleagues were arrested.
Haseeb also asked the lawyers to submit their demands and assured them that he would get them fulfilled.
Meanwhile, a notice was issued by IHC Bar Association Secretary Suhail Akbar Chaudhry, announcing a strike and saying that not only will the body protest against the "injustice", it will also take "strict action, if needed".
UNI XC ACL PS1638