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Dr Afgan
tortured by lawyers
Aitzaz holds police also responsible, Says country heading towards
politics of violence, resigns as SCBA president
Staff Reporter
Lahore—A mob of furious lawyers on Tuesday evening severely
manhandled former Federal Minister Sher Afgan Khan Niazi who has
detained for hours in a local hotel here at Mazang road.
The incident occurred when Sher Afgan went to meet a local advocate
Malik Noor Muhammad Awan for some personal matter where a large
number of angry lawyers gathered and tried to attack him. The
lawyers also threw rotten eggs on Sher Afgan. However he rushed to
escape and took shelter in a nearby local hotel where he remained
for more than three hours.
After hearing the news of the incident Aitzaz Ahsan President
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Anwar Kamal President Lahore
High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), Manzoor Qadir President Lahore
District Bar Association (LDBA) and other lawyer leaders reached the
spot and tried to solve the issue. SSP Operation Lahore and high
officials of police also remained present to tackle the situation.
Aitzaz and other leaders talked for a long time with the lawyers and
Sher Afgan but when Sher Afgan came out from the hotel some persons
again assaulted him.
Sher Afgan was also tortured by some persons while he was being
shifted to an Edhi Ambulance. The mob broke the sidescreens of the
ambulance while some persons also manhandled Aitzaz Ahsan. After
hectic efforts of police officials, Rescue 1122, Sher Afgan was
taken to Model Town Police Station.
Dr Afgan had received injuries on his neck, hip and knees.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Aitzaz said Pakistan is fast
going to the politics of violence.
Aitezaz Ahsan held the police partially responsible for the
manhandling of Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi at lawyers chamber here.
He said also the lawyers were involved in the whole episode of
manhandling of Sher Afgan, over which he is really grieved at the
event. He said when he arrived at the lawyers chamber, where Dr Sher
Afgan was besieged, there was less number of police personnel,
adding when he took along Dr Sher Afgan with him, there was no
driver in the ambulance.
He continued, at this, he mounted at the top of vehicle and
requested the people there to move back; however the people kept
smashing the ambulance.
Aitezaz said there were only 40 to 50 percent lawyers and the
remaining people could probably be from agencies. He said he tabled
his resignation from Supreme court Bar in protest against lawyers’
involvement in the incident; however, the lawyer movement will go on
without fail and he would continue to support the cause of
independent judiciary.
‘I will still have my role in the movement,’ he added. He said that
he will also hold the lawyers responsible for the condemnable event.
He announced to resign as SCBA President as a protest.
Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool arrived at hospital to visit Dr Sher
Afgan Khan Niazi, after the latter was besieged and ill-treated by
the lawyers for at least four hours at a lawyer’s c hamber at Mozang
road, Lahore.
Punjab Governor took along Niazi from Model Town police station to a
safe location.
After the incident, riots broke out in the wake of manhandling of Dr
Sher Afgan Khan Niazi in Lahore. The protesters blocked Sargodha
Road in protest.
Former federal minister Wasi Zafar condemned the manhandling of Dr.
Sher Afgan Niazi in Lahore by enraged lawyers and others. Former
minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad also condemned the
incident and said the country is fast heading towards civil war.
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