On Wednesday, a bench of Lahore High Court heard petitions filed against arrests of lawyers from their houses and offices during raids following connection with the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) attack.
Must Read: PIC attack: Third bench constituted to hear pleas against lawyers’ arrests
Chief Secretary Punjab, home secretary and I.G. Police Punjab appeared before a high court bench comprising of Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem.
Also Read: FIRs registered against over 250 lawyers for attacking Lahore hospital
The bench summoned the Chief Secretary, home secretary, I.G. Police along with three senior lawyers in the chamber.
The chief of police told the bench that the police was working according to the law and the case is being investigated as per the set standards.
“The police didn’t target a particular group,” said I.G. Police Punjab.
The Lahore High Court remarked the attack is unfortunate and there is no space in Pakistan for an adventure and asked why the faces of the lawyers were covered when they appeared in the court.
“The Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) attack is unfortunate, there is no space for an adventure in the country. Why the faces of the lawyers were covered when they produced in the court.”
In reply, police chief said,
“The police acted against those persons, which were arrested from the scene of the incident.”
LHC inquired,
“The perpetrators should face the consequences, why were those bothered who were not involved.”
“Why the police didn’t act earlier, when the lawyers covered six miles distance to reach the hospital,” the bench further asked.
To clarify the court, I.G Punjab replied,
“Police stopped them again and again but at that time the lawyers were peaceful. If the police allowed them to protest at the PIC.”
The bench further remarked,
“Why didn’t police stopped the lawyers from protest at the hospital. The police department should accept its failure.”
“Police used tear gas to disperse the lawyers mob,” Advocate General told the bench. “If tear gas should be used at such place,” the Lahore high court questioned. “How many people died in the incident”, the bench asked. Three people died in the incident, provincial home secretary informed the bench.
Home secretary added,
“The families were given Rs one million each as compensation amount.”
Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC), Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan, had constituted the third bench to hear petitions against lawyers’ arrests charged in Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) attack on December 11.
