Few groups of educated professionals have given themselves over to such public maleficence in the country as lawyers in the recent past. After the condemnable public torture of journalists on July 30, 2009, a large number of lawyers in Lahore once again harassed journalists who had arrived in the Lahore High Court on Thursday (August 06, 2009). Not only that but the discontented lawyers raised abusive slogans against the Lahore High Court’s Chief Justice because he had issued a sou motu notice over the incident of lawyers’ torture on journalists on July 30.

Fearing that some self-righteous lawyer may come after me and pound me to jelly with a huge gavel, I would refrain from making ridicule of my lawyer brothers (and sisters of course, who apparently are more peaceful creatures). What I do see in such behavior, termed by a private TV channel as ‘wukala Gardi’ (lawyer rampage), is disrespect to the profession of which they earn and which is considered as superior over other professions in the sense of its claim to justice. In the case of lawyers who violate law and indulge in coercion and torture, one can hardly find the right (or wrong) words. There is no dignity nor is there the slightest sense in such behavior.

Law, by its nature, stands on reason. It is a rational discipline and expects humans to behave rationally, according to certain principles. The supreme principle of these is acting peacefully. Even a harsh word or insulting gesture in the court of law is considered as contempt of the court. Do my lawyer friends not then understand the importance of respect to journalists and other people? Abusing and hitting newsmen and even abusing their own high official without any patience or logic is utterly detestable and entirely contrary to the sacred profession of practicing law. It will be appreciated if the lawyers in question accept their wrong, tender an apology to the journalist community, and start behaving like law-abiding citizens of Pakistan.