Police teams led by DPO Vehari use tear gas, resort to aerial firing
Burewala police stormed the Tehsil Bar Association on Saturday and arrested Bar President Ch Waqas Nazir Cheena along with dozens of lawyers in a violent operation that turned the Bar premises into a battleground due to heavy tear gas shelling and indiscriminate aerial firing.
The clash erupted while Bar members were ‘lawfully’ constructing chambers allotted after mutual consultation with revenue authorities. According to the Bar, police led by DPO Vehari not only assaulted male and female lawyers but also vandalized the Bar President’s office, chambers, and parked vehicles. At least 12 lawyers were seriously injured, and several— including Ch. Abrar Mahar Jutt Advocate, Malik Qaiser Advocate, Abrar Dogar Advocate, Tahir Saleemi Advocate, Shehzad Akbar Chauhan Advocate, Asim Iqbal Advocate, Ch. Mushtaq Advocate, Ehtesham Bhar Advocate, Faisal Manays Advocate, Malik Sajjad Kundra Advocate, and Mazhar Fareed Bhatti — were reportedly handcuffed, shackled, and unlawfully detained. The Burewala Bar Association condemned the police action, terming it illegal, humiliating, and a violation of lawyers’ dignity, and called upon the Inspector General of Punjab Police to ensure the immediate release of all arrested lawyers, transfer DPO Vehari, DSP Burewala, SHO Model Town, and the Assistant Commissioner, and initiate legal proceedings against those responsible. According to the district administration, President Bar Burewala and others illegally attempted to encroach state-owned land allocated for a revenue officer. The police and revenue departments jointly intervened, retrieved the land, and arrested 11 lawyers including the Bar President and Secretary. Construction material was seized, and an FIR has been requested.
Pakistan: Dozens of lawyers arrested after violent clashes with police in Burewala
