Lahore Bar goes on strike over ‘fake FIR’ against its secretary

LAHORE: The Lahore Bar Association (LBA) has declared a comprehensive strike in subordinate courts on Thursday in response to the filing of a case under terrorism provisions against the LBA Secretary.

Rana Intizar, President of the Lahore Bar Association, asserted that a ‘false FIR’ had been lodged against Secretary Umar Waqas Warraich of the Lahore Bar. He described such lawsuits against lawyers as a deliberate conspiracy targeting legal professionals.

The strike’s primary demand is for the immediate dismissal of the case registered against the Lahore Bar’s Secretary.

The incident transpired at the premises of the sessions court, where lawyers have strongly criticized the move and called for the withdrawal of what they consider a “fake case.”

Lawyers lock down sessions court

Video clips of the incident circulated online, depicting Mr. Warraich confronting SP Raza Tanvir and insisting that the court premises belong to them.

In response to the video clips, police high command officials decided to take a firm stance against the lawyers by registering criminal cases against them. The FIR was filed by Police Inspector Asad Mahmood Qureshi with the Islampura police station.

Legal practitioners have strongly condemned the registration of the case. Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Haroonur Rashid issued a statement declaring it a false and frivolous case filed against the bar secretary and other lawyers under anti-terrorism charges.

“The registration of the false case against the secretary of the LBA is illegal and unlawful,” Mr. Haroon stated, demanding that the Inspector General of Police withdraw the case and take action against the police officers involved in its filing.