Lawyers Clash with Police Outside Sindh High Court

Chaos erupted outside the Sindh High Court on Saturday as a lawyers’ rally against the 27th Constitutional Amendment turned violent. Police officers were injured, and traffic was gridlocked on roads leading to the court.

Confrontation at the Court

The clash began when police tried to stop lawyers from entering the high court gates, according to DIG South Asad Raza. Later, the rally was allowed inside with permission from lawyers already present. However, tensions escalated. Some lawyers assaulted officers, tore uniforms, and raised slogans, spilling the confrontation onto the streets. Traffic near the court came to a standstill.
The legal fraternity has protested across Pakistan since the amendment became law on November 13. Lawyers argue it undermines judicial independence and consolidates power in the executive.

Nationwide Resistance

The day before, police blocked a protest by the opposition alliance TTAP and PTI outside the Karachi Press Club. At least nine people were detained. TTAP had marked Friday as a “Black Day,” with rallies in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sukkur, Larkana, Umerkot, Ghotki, and other districts.
The Karachi Bar Association has been observing strikes since the amendment’s passage. SHCBA General Secretary Mirza Sarfaraz said the 27th Amendment had “abolished the Supreme Court in effect.” DIG Raza stated he will write to the High Court Registrar to protect court sanctity. He added that the Bar had promised action against offending lawyers.
Lawyers defended their protest as peaceful. One stated, “The court is our home, and we have come to protect the institution we love.” Nationwide, lawyers held meetings and boycotted federal courts. Several Supreme Court and Lahore High Court judges resigned in protest against the amendment.