1734 arrested after Emergency in Punjab
'Pakistan Times' Punjab Bureau

LAHORE: Police have arrested 1734 lawyers and political parties men all across the province of Punjab, following the enforcement of emergency in the country and most of them after being produced in the courts were sent to the jails, while only a handful of persons were bailed out.

Punjab Interior Secretary, Khusro Pervaiz said that in all 1734 lawyers and political parties workers were arrested in the protests and the crackdown launched throughout the Punjab, as everywhere in Punjab meetings and procession remain banned under the enforced section 144 and these arrests were made on its violations.

Replying to a question, Interior Secretary said that there was no ban on the meeting with these persons in any jail and asserted that the SCB former president, Hamid Khan has not been arrested.

According to another report, security arrangements on the city’s Mall Road and outside the High Court has further been beefed up for foiling the lawyers’ scheduled protest demonstrations on the 4th consecutive day since the imposition of emergency.

Heavy contingents of police have been posted at the Mall Road, outside the Punjab Assembly, Masjid-e-Shuhda, GPO Chowk and Aiwan-e-Adal, while plain clothes men were also guarding the vintage points of this provincial capital city.

The police have erected barriers on both sides of the Lahore High Court building, while the all the entry/exit roads of the city are being manned by strong troops.

Officials told that section 144 has been pronounced in the city and its enforcement would be ensured under all circumstance.

They said that no political party or lawyers would be allowed to take law into their hands.

SHC Lawyers’ Protest

And, a report from Karachi says that the lawyers in Sindh High Court (SHC) continued their protest on the 4th day of the imposition of emergency rule in the country.

Heavy contingents of police and rangers were posted within and outside the SHC compounds, lawyers were allowed to enter on identification, private media and common people were not allowed to enter into the SHC.

A general body meeting attended by a large number of lawyers was held in the SHC Bar Room, which was addressed by the lawyers’ leaders Hafeez Lakho, Akhtar Hussain and Ilyas Khan.●