Chaos broke out outside the Sindh High Court on Saturday as lawyers rallied against the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The protest quickly turned violent, injuring police officers and blocking traffic on roads leading to the court.
The confrontation began when police tried to stop lawyers from entering the court premises. DIG South Asad Raza said the rally reached the gates before officers intervened. Later, lawyers already inside the court allowed the demonstrators to enter, temporarily calming the situation.
However, tensions soon escalated again. Some lawyers attacked police officers while chanting slogans. DIG Raza added that uniforms were torn, and the clash spilled onto the streets, causing traffic congestion in the surrounding area. Consequently, the law enforcement faced difficulties controlling the crowd.
DIG Raza stated that he would write to the High Court Registrar to protect the court’s sanctity. Furthermore, he requested the Bar to take action against lawyers involved in the violence. According to him, the Bar assured that it would investigate and punish those responsible.
Meanwhile, lawyers defended their actions and insisted on their peaceful intentions. One protester said, “The court is our home. We have come to protest peacefully to protect the institution that we love.” He added, “We are not slaves but nationalists who will remain at the forefront.”
The legal fraternity has continued strikes and rallies across Pakistan since the amendment became law on November 13. Lawyers argue that the 27th Amendment undermines judicial independence and concentrates power in the executive branch.
Resistance spread nationwide. For example, police blocked a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Friday, detaining at least nine people. The opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) had declared Friday a “Black Day” and organized protests in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkur, Larkana, Umerkot, Ghotki, and other districts.
The Karachi Bar Association has observed ongoing strikes since the amendment passed. Similarly, SHCBA General Secretary Mirza Sarfaraz said the 27th Amendment effectively “abolished the Supreme Court.” In addition, the Lahore High Court Bar Association condemned the amendment and announced a rally. LBA President Mubashir Rehman declared a “complete boycott of the Federal Constitutional Court.”
Pakistan: Lawyers clash with police amid 27th amendment protests
