Talal Chaudhry deplores clashes outside courtroom, orders inquiry

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Friday deplored the clashes between police personnel and members of legal fraternity outside an accountability court prior to graft proceedings against Sharif family members.

Talking to media persons outside the accountability court, he said an inquiry into the matter has been ordered. “I will hold consultative meetings with the lawyers’ community to devise a strategy to avert any untoward incident in future,” he remarked.

He called on media to play responsible and unbiased role as he claimed the clashes took place outside the court premises, dispelling the media reports that a scuffle broke out within the courtroom.

“PML-N believes in supremacy of the law, no party leaders and activists were involved in the clashes,” Chaudhry claimed.

However, he admitted the incident was regretful.

Earlier today, an accountability court abruptly adjourned the hearing of three graft references against the Sharif family members and fixed Oct 19, as new date, for the indictment after the lawyers staged a protest inside the courtroom.

Judge Muhammad Bashir this morning adjourned the hearing soon after the proceedings began when the lawyers forced their way into the court room and surrounded the judge.

“Islamabad High Court has allowed lawyers to witness court proceedings, be it the accountability court since it is an open court,” the lawyers claimed.

These voices echoed the courtroom following a scuffle broke out between the federal police and PML-N lawyers outside the courtroom.

The ruling party’s lawyers were trying to enter the court premises to witness the proceedings when they were denied an entry by police in the wake of stringent security measures, this led to a brawl with security guards.

According to police officials, they had been given a task to deny entry to any unwarranted person into the court room other than the prosecutor and Sharif family members.

The security measures were taken to ward off any untoward incident, the officials added.