NAROWAL: Sialkot police have registered an FIR against 10 lawyers, including general secretary of the Pasrur Tehsil Bar Association, for allegedly assaulting Tehsildar Atif Mahmood Gondal. He reported to the police that he was working in his office when bar secretary Rana Nadeem Afzal with advocates Rana Fahad, Mian Tariq and seven to eight unidentified lawyers barged in. He alleged that the lawyers verbally abused him and physically assaulted him with slaps, punches, kicks and wooden sticks. They also used his laptop to hit him on the head. Gondal stated that the attack left his head injured and that the lawyers threatened him with severe consequences. He said the assault occurred because he had submitted a court-ordered report based on merit, which Rana Fahad had allegedly sought to influence for personal gain. On Gondal’s complaint, city police registered an FIR against the lawyers under sections 337L(2), 337A(i), 506, 186, 148, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The Tehsil Bar Association of Pasrur, however, issued a press release labeling Gondal as a corrupt officer who allegedly demands bribes for processing inheritance cases. The association has announced a strike in protest against the tehsildar and demanded that the deputy commissioner ordered an inquiry into allegations. Police sources confirmed that no arrests have been made so far. Attempts to reach Zulqarnain Langriyal, Deputy Commissioner Sialkot, for comments on the incident were unsuccessful.
(Daily Dawn)
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