IHCBA suspends membership of 60 lawyers for defying strike

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) has suspended the membership of 60 lawyers for defying the strike against the arrest of lawyers after the PIC incident. Deputy Attorney General Tayyab Shah and Tariq Khokhar are among the lawyers whose membership has been suspended. The IHCBA office-bearers also recommended the suspension of licences of both lawyers. On the other hand, the police presented four more lawyers in the Lahore anti-terrorism court. Lawyers continued the boycott of courts against the arrest of their colleagues. As many as 81 lawyers have been arrested and sent to jail on 15-days judicial remand. Police presented over arrested lawyers in the ATC amid tight security measures. A heavy contingent of police has also been deployed around the courtroom premises to prevent any untoward incident. The prosecutor pleaded court for 15 days physical remand of the lawyers but Judge Abdul Qayyum sent them on judicial remand; however, the lawyers had produced before court after covering their face. A forensic team reached the PIC for collecting evidence to present in the court. The Shadman police had registered two cases against 21 nominated and 250 unknown lawyers on the charge of storming the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC). The case has been registered under sections 322, 440, 452, 353, 186, 354, 148, 149, 337H(2) and 395 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on the complaint of Dr Zeeshan, Dr Irfan Niazi, Dr Muhammad Irfan and Dr Muhammad Habib.