Islamabad's Legal Storm: Police Launch Massive Raids on Lawyers After High Court Clash

Islamabad witnessed an unprecedented crackdown on its legal community as police launched massive raids on Wednesday, targeting 17 locations across the capital to apprehend lawyers involved in the violent clashes at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) earlier this week. The dramatic operation saw law enforcement personnel sweep through residential areas and legal premises, seeking to bring to justice those accused of attacking the revered judicial institution.

The raids, orchestrated under the direct orders of Inspector General Police (IGP) Syed Ali Raza, came days after a harrowing incident at the IHC.

On Monday, a group of lawyers, protesting a proposed demolition drive against their illegal chambers, stormed the court premises. Their aggression escalated to an alarming degree, with reports detailing an attack on the chamber of Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, manhandling of court staff, and significant damage to property.

According to police sources, seventeen specialized teams fanned out across Islamabad, executing search operations in areas including F-8, G-10, G-11, Chak Shahzad, and Sihala.

The swift action was based on an First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Ramna Police Station, citing serious charges under sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt), and 506(ii) (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Identification of the accused was primarily facilitated through extensive CCTV footage captured during the tumultuous events.

The Islamabad police spokesperson confirmed the operations, asserting that the crackdown was exclusively aimed at individuals who had "attacked a respected judicial institution and injured court staff and security personnel." The statement emphasized the police's commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that no one, regardless of profession, is above accountability for acts of violence and vandalism.

However, the legal fraternity swiftly condemned the police action.

The Vice Chairman of the Islamabad Bar Council, Raja Mohammad Shakeel, expressed strong disapproval, stating that lawyers would be meeting to decide their future course of action, including potentially approaching the Supreme Court against the police raids. The Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) also convened an emergency meeting to address the situation, highlighting the deep rift now emerging between law enforcement and a segment of the legal community.

This incident is not an isolated one.

The lawyers' protest and subsequent violence follow a pattern of defiance against court orders regarding illegal chambers. The Supreme Court had previously issued directives for the demolition of these unauthorized structures, particularly those encroaching on the football ground within the F-8 district courts.

Similar clashes occurred in 2021 when lawyers attacked the IHC over the demolition of their chambers, and another violent protest erupted in 2023 at the F-8 district courts over a similar issue.

While police efforts were underway, some lawyers reportedly managed to secure interim or anticipatory bail, complicating the arrest process for the authorities.

Nonetheless, the determined stance of the Islamabad police signals a clear intent to restore order and ensure respect for judicial institutions, even amidst strong opposition from parts of the legal community. The capital now awaits further developments in this escalating legal and administrative standoff.