Islamabad court sends contempt notices to 17 lawyers for vandalising IHC building

• Notices served on 17 lawyers for contempt after IHC building vandalised
• On Monday, lawyers in Islamabad violently protested the demolition of their chambers by CDA
• A mob of lawyers smashed windows in the chief justice block, chanting slogans outside the IHC Chief Justice's office

ISLAMABAD: Contempt of court notices were sent to 17 lawyers by the  Islamabad High Court (IHC) after they barged into the court premises and vandalised it two days earlier.

On Monday, lawyers in Islamabad violently protested the demolition of their chambers by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) at the Islamabad judicial complex.

A mob of lawyers smashed windows in the chief justice block, chanting slogans outside the IHC Chief Justice's office.

Read more: Islamabad lawyers storm IHC building to protest CDA's demolition of chambers

The CDA had on Sunday night demolished illegal chambers set up by lawyers in the premises of the district and sessions court in Islamabad.

Case registered against protesting lawyers

A case was later registered against the lawyers and raids were conducted to arrest the lawyers named in the FIR.

The FIR was registered against 300 lawyers, but 22 lawyers were named in the FIR under terrorism provisions. The spokesperson said some lawyers attacked the chief justice’s block and vandalised it and contempt of court proceedings have been initiated against them.

The IHC stated that it had sent a reference to the Islamabad Bar Council to suspend the licenses of the lawyers who were involved in the protest.

Read more: Police register FIR against lawyers who stormed Islamabad High Court

The spokesperson also clarified that the IHC and district courts carried out their regular work, refuting media reports that the IHC and district courts had been closed indefinitely.

It was clarified that the Islamabad Bar Council (IBA), Islamabad High Court Bar Association and District Bar Association had announced a strike and to avoid inconvenience to the general public and lawyers, the cause lists were cancelled for only one day. 

'Take strict action against those involved in hooliganism'

On Tuesday, 70 legal practitioners issued a statement under their signatures condemning the vandalism at the offices of IHC CJ block.

They said attack on the court building was actually an attack on the base of legal profession and demanded the Islamabad Bar Council take strict action against those involved in hooliganism.