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Lawyers, patwaris clash at Faisalabad dist courts

By Mohammad Saleem 

FAISALABAD: A lawyer beats an injured revenue office employee. (Right) A smashed window of the revenue office.—Dawn
FAISALABAD: Lawyers manhandled an EDO (Revenue), ransacking his office, on Saturday on district courts premises and a DSP was injured when black coats entered a violent clash with patwaris, sparked by a dispute over issuance of a title deed (Fard).
  
According to reports, four lawyers, led by an advocate, Rehan, allegedly thrashed a gardawar, Saeed, for not issuing to their client a Fard. 
Later, local patwaris carrying banners inscribed with slogans against the lawyers took out a rally, demanding the arrest of the accused. 
The protest enraged some district bar members who attacked agitating patwaris with clubs and empty bottles. A numbers of visitors had to hurriedly leave the courts premises to avoid harm.
Eyewitnesses said the lawyers chased patwaris and subjected many of them to severe torture on the court premises and even at the Zila Council Chowk. Some vehicles parked there were also damaged during the clash. 
They said enraged lawyers entered the office of EDO Malik Aslam while the officer was working there. 
They manhandled the EDO and ransacked his office, breaking the windowpanes and furniture. Later, they forced Mr Aslam and his staff out of his office.
The lawyers also blocked the main Zila Council Chowk and chanted slogans against the district government. 
Though a heavy police contingent was deployed to avert any further clash, the force played silent spectators. During the clash, an empty bottle hit Kotwali DSP Asadur Rehman’s face. The officer’s wound had to be stitched at the hospital.
Police have registered a case against the four lawyers on charges of torturing a revenue official (gardawar). However, no arrest has been made so far. 
Later, at a press conference, district bar association secretary Saifullah Bhatti announced lawyers would boycott the courts till action was taken against DCO Saeed Iqbal, EDO Malik Aslam and DO (Revenue) Ms Mussrat Jabeen. 
He alleged corruption was rampant among revenue officials who force lawyers as well as members of the public to grease their palm. Revenue officers were time and again informed about the menace, but in vain, he added. 
He said revenue officials had planned an attack on lawyers. He alleged about 300 club-wielding patwaris attacked lawyers and tortured many of them in the presence of police. 
The DCO said lawyers reacted violently after some of their colleagues were booked for subjecting a revenue official to torture.