The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday decided to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the arrest and harassment of lawyers following an attack on the chief justice block of the high court.
According to local media reports, the decision was taken over a proposal by the police, that has been directed to arrest the lawyers explicitly involved in the attack, and take action as per the law against them after identification by the presidents of the high court and Islamabad District Bar.
Justice Minallah, who was hearing the case, noted that bringing the miscreants to justice would not be hard task. “You all know who the attackers were. They were all lawyers who had come here, and there was no outsider. I know a majority of them personally. They are all included in proceeding with the march, agitating the lawyers, and in attacking them,” he said.
The court directed the police to independently take actions in accordance with the evidence and the law. “A police cannot illegally harass a person or his family. The innocent ones should approach for relief as per law,” Justice Minallah maintained.
IHC chief justice stated that he has written a letter in this regard and is now awaiting a response from the regulators.
Minallah added that there was no need for protest as he had been working for the katcheri after assuming the charge as chief justice. “The incumbent government worked at a fast pace for the transference of the district judiciary,” he said, adding that “the government granted approval for the katcheri transference funds from the PSDP.”
The high court ordered the chief commissioner to inform the bar in writing, updating them on the progress of the transference of the district courts.
Earlier on Monday, dozens of lawyers ransacked the chamber of IHC chief justice during a protest against the demolition of their illegal chambers at the Islamabad District Courts also known as the katcheri.
