a large group of men grabbing the two victims
A viral video captured the shocking moment a group of lawyers beat a woman inside a Pakistani court.
The incident happened on November 22, 2021, inside Malir Court, Karachi.
Laila Parveen, an activist of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and her brother appeared in court in connection with a case that she filed against her ex-husband.
She had been married to Ali Hasnain, a lawyer, for five years before divorcing in June 2021.
Laila alleged that Ali had taken a loan of Rs. 6.5 million (£27,000) from her brother. He repaid the loan in the form of a cheque.
However, the cheque bounced.
Laila said: “The cheque from my ex-husband bounced, following which my brother registered a case against him at a police station in the SITE area.”
Laila revealed that her ex-husband was arrested over the matter on November 21, 2021.
On the day of the incident, Laila and her brother attended court.
Several of Ali’s colleagues subsequently targeted Laila and her brother, assaulting them.
Footage showed a large group of men grabbing the two victims and beating them inside the building, with onlookers watching, some even filming the assault on their phones.
Throughout the video, both victims are manhandled, preventing them from escaping. A woman is also heard screaming.
Laila continued: “Upon my refusal, Saeed Shehzad, Nasrullah, Akbar, Muhammad Ali, Atif, Mir Mukhtiar and Junaid along with 20 to 25 other unknown persons, beat me and my brother Mushtaq Iqbal, grabbed me by the hair and dragged me.”
She stated that her gold jewellery had been taken during the incident.
The victim also claimed that prior to the assault, two lawyers representing her ex-husband brandished weapons and threatened to kill her if she did not withdraw the case.
Warning – Distressing Images
Lawyers beating up a woman complainant inside the Malir Court premises. The woman, along with her brother, was tortured and manhandled for lodging a case against a lawyer. pic.twitter.com/0XsqgNZEIC
— Saba Hyder (@SabaHyder1) November 23, 2021
The viral video sparked outrage, with actress Maya Ali posting:
“Just saw a very disturbing video on social media where sick, mental, uneducated, or should I call them educated animals who call themselves lawyers were beating a woman up badly.
“Aren’t they supposed to fight for justice or give people justice?”
The general secretary of the Malir district bar association, Riaz Bhatti, later said that some lawyers had tried to get the dispute between Advocate Hasnain and Laila Parveen resolved, but some people accompanying her became harsh and indulged in a fistfight.
Following the incident, Laila sought legal action against the lawyers.
Police have now registered a case against the group.
The case was registered under various provisions including assault, embezzlement, threatening with deadly weapons and rioting.
The case has been registered against several people, including Ali Hasnain.
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