Some lawyers and visitors, however, managed to rescue the ASI from the lawyers. —File photo

LAHORE The Islampura police registered a case on Wednesday against five lawyers for allegedly thrashing an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) at Islampura's sessions courts after the hearing of a kidnap case.

Islampura Station House Officer (SHO) Masood Gujjar told Dawn ASI Faqeer Muhammad from Nishtar Colony investigation police had appeared at the sessions judge's court in connection with the kidnapping of Khadija Bibi.

Three days ago, the court sent Khadija to Darul Aman and accused Sahuddin Nazar to jail. On Wednesday, after the hearing, lawyers led by Rana Asif Raza, who was representing the accused, asked the ASI to accompany them to the bar room but the latter refused, the SHO said.

He said lawyers got annoyed and started slapping Faqeer. They also dragged him and kept him beating with kicks and fits for some time.

Some lawyers and visitors, however, managed to rescue the ASI from the lawyers. The ASI suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Mian Munshi Hospital for checkup.

A case under sections 148, 149, 186, 342, 353 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered against lawyers Rana Asif Raza, Saeed Anwar, Malik Muhammad Hanif, Sajjad Afzal and Mehr Jehangir on the complaint of the ASI.

The SHO said raids would be conducted to track down the accused on Wednesday night. He said lawyers violated law in the sessions courts frequently.

According to Faqeer, he had no issue with the lawyers as the latter beat him after failing to win the case.

The cases of verbal and physical clashes involving lawyers are not new.

Earlier, some lawyers abused a Lahore's civil judge on July 27.

Similarly, lawyers have been on strike against a woman deputy district officer (revenue) working at the Lahore Cantonment courts for her refusal to entertain them out of turn.

Inspector General Tariq Saleem Dogar said on Wednesday he expected from the higher judiciary to take suo motu note of lawyers' highhandedness. He also ordered the police to investigate case on merit.

In a statement, the IG said lawyers' leaders should take action against those who took law into their hands.