In a protest against the demolition of their chambers by the Capital Development Authority in F-8 sector of Islamabad, a number of lawyers stormed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) building on Monday.

The lawyers chanted slogans against IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah as they barged into the chief justice block, trapping the Justice Minallah into his chamber. They also broke the windows and doors of the building.

The special security police were also absent from the scene when the building was stormed by the lawyer as they arrived much later. Female employees were evacuated from the Chief Justice block and other IHC judges also arrived at the scene.

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Due to the violence, the proceedings at both the high court and district courts remained suspended, with roads outside the court blocked for traffic.

The lawyers also misbehaved with journalists who were present on the scene and were recording videos.

According to Dawn, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani and IHC Bar Association President Haseeb Chaudhry urged the lawyers to opt for talks. “Until you people put your stance before us, we will not be able to solve the problem,” said Justice Kiyani as per the report.

The deputy commissioner, Hamza Shafqaat, also arrived on the scene to placate the angry lawyers. He said that the administration was trying to resolve the situation within half an hour.

NO TALKS TILL RESTORATION OF CHAMBERS:

The protesters, however, refused to back down. They said they “will not talk until our chambers are restored”. They also claimed that some of their colleagues were arrested.

Justice Kiyani said the detained lawyers will be released, adding that lawyers shot themselves in the foot by attacking tyhe chambers of the IHC CJ.

“Lawyers have crossed the head of their house, now I will have to placate him as well,” he was quoted by Dawn as saying.

Meanwhile, a notice was issued by IHC Bar Association Secretary Suhail Akbar Chaudhry, announced a strike and saying that not only will the body protest against the “injustice”, it will also take “strict action if needed”.