SUKKUR (MNN); Police detained five individuals on Saturday after violent clashes broke out during the All Sindh Lawyers’ Convention in Sukkur, held to protest the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The situation escalated when one group of lawyers chanted slogans against President Asif Ali Zardari, while another group responded with slogans in his favour. Tensions worsened when plainclothes individuals entered the venue, sparking verbal disputes and physical altercations with the lawyers.
Some protesting lawyers caught five outsiders dressed in plainclothes who had entered the convention and allegedly attacked them. Advocate KB Laghari confirmed that the individuals were handed over to the police. He stressed that lawyers are united and should not be pitted against each other.
During the chaos, Sukkur District Bar Association President Qurban Ali Malano’s condition worsened and he was shifted to a hospital.
According to lawyers, the individuals responsible for creating the disturbance were workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party. The key figure identified was Mairaj Gopang, associated with the PPP Shaheed Benazir Division and the Peoples Students Federation.
The clashes reportedly began when Karachi Bar General Secretary Rehman Korai mentioned Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar in his speech. The alleged PPP workers then attacked senior lawyers including Aamir Nawaz Waraich, Malano, Laghari, Haseeb Jamali and Shafqat Raheem. Despite efforts by other lawyers to intervene, several senior members sustained minor injuries and were hospitalized.
When taken to the police station, the detained individuals chanted political slogans in favour of Bhutto.
Sindh United Party President Syed Zain Shah condemned the incident, calling it an attack on democracy, constitutional values and freedom of expression.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar took notice of the incident, expressing deep regret and condemning the attack on lawyers. He said strict legal action would be taken against those involved. Lanjar emphasised unity within the legal community and assured that the government would ensure the security of lawyers. He added that a thorough investigation had been ordered and responsibility would be fixed accordingly.
