The Punjab Bar Council (PBC) has announced a complete strike across Punjab, including Lahore, on October 27 to protest what it described as the illegal arrests and registration of false terrorism-related cases against lawyers.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the PBC strongly condemned the alleged false cases, unlawful raids and arrests of legal practitioners in different parts of the province. The Council termed the nomination of lawyers in First Information Reports (FIRs) as “a complete injustice” and a violation of their professional rights.
The PBC has demanded immediate withdrawal of all cases filed against lawyers and called for the release of those currently in custody. It also urged the government to take strict action against the officers responsible for what it called “abuse of authority.”
As part of the protest, the Punjab Bar Council announced that lawyers across the province will not appear in courts on Monday, October 27, effectively bringing legal proceedings to a halt for the day.
The Council stated that the strike is aimed at defending the independence and dignity of the legal community, emphasizing that the rule of law cannot be upheld by targeting those who advocate for it.
Further deliberations on the situation are expected following the province-wide strike, as lawyers’ associations coordinate their next steps in response to the arrests.
