By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD; Capital police carried out multiple raids on Sunday in an effort to arrest lawyers accused in a case following a violent clash with the president of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA).
According to police officials, an FIR was registered at the Secretariat Police Station on the complaint of IHCBA President Syed Wajid Ali Shah Gillani. The case nominated 70 lawyers along with 150–200 unidentified persons.
Following the registration of the case, police secured arrest warrants and deployed several teams to conduct raids. By evening, at least 17 raids had been carried out, including at the residences of 11 nominated lawyers, but no arrests were made as most had gone underground to avoid detention.
Investigators said CCTV footage from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises and Constitution Avenue was being reviewed to identify others involved in the unrest.
The FIR stated that Advocate Gillani was confronted in the parking area outside the bar office by a group of 60–70 individuals in lawyers’ attire, joined by 150–200 others. The group allegedly raised slogans against the IHC chief justice, state institutions, and the army. When Gillani tried to calm them, the mob reportedly attacked, abused, and threatened him. He was later rescued by bar members and staff.
Meanwhile, former minister Shireen Mazari said police surrounded her residence around 1am, inquiring about Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha. She said police claimed there was an FIR against them but left after being informed they were not present. Mazari argued that video evidence from the protest disproved the charges, calling the case “political persecution.”
The clash reportedly stemmed from a protest staged by lawyers opposing the suspension of Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri. Tensions escalated when PTI-affiliated lawyers confronted the IHCBA president after the demonstration.
