Various lawyer associations declared on Thursday to observe a complete strike and stage a rally in protest against a recent police crackdown on their colleagues. The decision came in response to the police’s actions on Wednesday, which saw officers resorting to force, including baton-charging and teargassing, and making multiple arrests outside the Lahore High Court (LHC).

In a joint resolution, the legal bodies announced their plan to stage a strike on Friday in the Punjab capital, coupled with a general house meeting. Additionally, a rally from the Lahore High Court Bar to the GPO Chowk is scheduled to take place, according to the resolution.

During a meeting convened at the Lahore High Court Bar, representatives from the Punjab Bar, LHC Bar, and the Lahore Bar condemned the police’s crackdown on layers, labeling it as unwarranted. They specifically denounced the shelling and arrests of lawyers and termed the notification regarding the relocation of courts to Model Town as ‘controversial,’ demanding its immediate withdrawal.

Furthermore, the lawyers demanded the removal of terrorism-related charges from cases lodged against their colleagues and called for the release of those arrested during the police action.

Key figures present at the meeting included former Supreme Court Bar Association president Ahsan Bhoon, LHC Bar President Asad Manzoor Butt, and other senior legal practitioners.