The People’s Lawyers’ Forum (PLF) held a protest against Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for declaring Senator Dr Babar Awan as liable for murder, at the General Post Office (GPO) Chowk, the Mall on Monday. A large number of lawyers participated in the protest and blocked traffic for around an hour. They chanted slogans against Sanaullah and in support of Awan. Protesters were also carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the Punjab law minister and in support of the former federal law minister. The lawyers demanded immediate removal of Sanaullah and said that the minister did not deserve the office because instead of fulfilling his responsibility of maintaining law and order, Sanaullah incited the public by passing a decree against a veteran lawyer and politician such as Awan. The protesters asked Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif to take notice of Sanaullah’s statements and urged CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo motu notice of the minister’s remarks. They also demanded the Punjab Bar Council to cancel Sanaullah’s practicing license. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Malik Mushtaq Ahmed Awan, PLF Information Secretary Abdullah Malik, Dr Zahid Bokhari, Syed Nasir Abbas, Muhammad Ashraf Khan, Muhammad Ilyas Khan, Mian Tariq Mehmood and Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) President Asghar Gill also participated in the protest.
