KARACHI/HYDERABAD: Tensions have escalated between lawyers and the Sindh Police following a series of protests in Karachi and Hyderabad.
The protests were triggered by police operations aimed at enforcing regulations against the use of fancy number plates, hooters, police lights and tinted windows on vehicles.
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On February 3, police in Hyderabad stopped a vehicle displaying a green number plate and equipped with tinted windows as part of a broader campaign to ‘improve’ public safety. The operation is seen as a response to rising concerns about illegal activities associated with such modifications.
However, the police action drew criticism from the legal community, which expressed reservations regarding the enforcement methods employed by the law enforcers.
A group of lawyers allegedly vandalised the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Hyderabad, leading to heightened tensions between the two parties.
The Sindh Police condemned the vandalism, demanding a ‘lawful’ conduct from all stakeholders involved. Following the incident, negotiations were imitated between police officials and representatives from the legal community.
However, the lawyers demanded the transfer of the SSP as a condition for de-escalating the situation, a request that the police deemed unacceptable.
The protests resulted in significant disruptions, including the blocking of the Hyderabad bypass by lawyers. The provincial police proposed to address the concerns raised by the legal community by launching a judicial inquiry into the events that allegedly transpired.
The inquiry will aim to investigate the actions taken by the police and determine whether any illegal acts occurred during the enforcement of the law.
The proposed inquiry will involve the participation from both bar representatives and senior police officers, with oversight from the Sessions Judge of Hyderabad.
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The Sindh Police stated that the inquiry would help clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and address anu grievances raised by the legal community.