Lawyers call off protest outside Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: Following successful negotiations with the local administration lawyers from different parts of Punjab, demanding formation of separate benches in their cities, called off their sit-in late Tuesday night.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Kamran Murtaza said that the lawyers wanted to record their protest and won’t back off from their demands.

Lawyers from Sargodha, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sahiwal and DG Khan were holding a sit-in outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan. They said the Punjab cabinet had approved formation of the benches in their cities.

The protesters also clashes when lawyers tried to force their way into the apex court building . TV footage showed lawyers throwing stones, while the police baton charged the lawyers to drive them out from the premises of the apex court.

During clashes, the assistant commissioner, DSP and four policemen were injured. Several lawyers also sustained injuries.

Following the clashes, the police surrounded the Supreme Court while the lawyers continued with their protest