FIR filed against lawyers for assaulting SHO

A new FIR has been registered against several lawyers for assaulting a SHO at the City Courts police station in Karachi.

A case was previously filed on some lawyers over the alleged beating of Youtuber Rajab Butt during a court appearance.

According to reports, the latest FIR was filed on the complaint of SHO Jahangir Bhutto. The FIR said that on December 30, a group of 40–50 lawyers apparently forced their way into the temporary Risala police station set up within the City Courts, demanding the registration of a case against Rajab Butt and his lawyer.

The FIR nominates Advocate Riaz Ali Solangi, Advocate Abdul Fatah Chandio and Advocate Abdul Wahab Rajper, along with several unidentified lawyers. The SHO said that when he refused to file an FIR saying that an FIR had already been lodged, the lawyers verbally abused him, physically assaulted him and gave death threats.

The police personnel later intervened, after which the lawyers started protesting outside the police station.

The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including charges related to rioting, criminal intimidation, obstructing a public servant and assault to deter a public servant from duty.

Advocate Solangi has denied any of the above and claimed that Rajab Butt uploaded a vlog using inappropriate language against lawyers and trying to provoke a reaction. He claimed the YouTuber later apologised at the Karachi Bar Association committee room following the incident. Investigations into both FIRs are in process.