Tensions flared in Hyderabad as station house officers (SHOs) from all local police stations, along with senior officials, including the DSP, Hyderabad SSP Farrukh Lanjhar and SP (Headquarters) Masood Iqbal, submitted three-month leave requests in protest against the local lawyers' community.
The move came after a heated protest by lawyers, which resulted in damage to government property and verbal abuse directed at police officers.
The situation escalated when Hyderabad DIG Tariq Razzak Dharejo intervened, arriving at the SSP office to address the growing unrest within the police force. DIG Dharejo instructed the officers to withdraw their applications and return to their duties, emphasizing that “whatever has happened, there are legal channels available, which we will use”.
Following the orders, the policemen all returned to their stations.
The DIG stated that the protests stemmed from an incident where lawyer Ali Raza Buzdar was reportedly stopped and mistreated by police within the limits of Bhittai Nagar Police Station, leading to the registration of a case against him. In response, members of the legal fraternity staged a 15-hour sit-in at the SSP office, demanding action against the officers involved.
During the protest, lawyers allegedly damaged government property and used offensive language towards police personnel.
In reaction to the protest, police officers expressed frustration over the disrespect and abuse they endured, claiming that both they and their families were verbally assaulted.
“Disrespect of officers in the name of legal action is not acceptable. We have the right to enforce the law without facing such humiliation,” said one police officer. Some officers even threatened to resign, stating, “We are going home in protest -- let the lawyers run the city now.”
Late on Tuesday night, negotiations between the Hyderabad DIG and representatives of the lawyers eventually led to a breakthrough, with the lawyers ending their sit-in.
Amir Warraich, the president of the Karachi Bar Association, confirmed that they had spoken with the Sindh police chief and the DIG, who agreed to transfer the SSP involved in the incident. Warraich stated that the DIG would visit the bar on February 6 with the official transfer order.
DIG Dharejo emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict peacefully, stating, “The police and lawyers are two sides of the same coin. We will address all the lawyers’ concerns through legal means.”
