Punjab Govt deploys Rangers in Lahore

LAHORE: The Ministry of Interior has approved the deployment of Pakistan Rangers in Lahore at important locations of the city “for maintenance of law and order”,  notification issued Wednesday night.

The Punjab home department had requested the deployment of paramilitary troops in the province after an angry mob of lawyers stormed the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, damaged the equipment and set vehicles on fire Wednesday morning.

READ MORE: Four patients dead as lawyers attacks Lahore hospital

According to the interior ministry, 10 platoons and two companies of the paramilitary force have been deployed in the city.

One platoon will be deployed at the Governor House while another will be stationed at the area surrounding Lahore GOR I and II.

The rest of the platoons, one each, will be deployed at the GPO Chowk Mall Road, Punjab Assembly, the Supreme Court Registry.

READ ALSO: Chohan manhandled by lawyers outside Lahore hospital

Lahore High Court, Civil Secretariat, Aiwan-e-Adal, the IG office, One platoon will also be deployed at the PIC.

The paramilitary force has been given “legal cover” under sections 4 (2) and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and under sections 7 (b) and 10 of the Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959.

A group of lawyers stormed the emergency ward of the PIC, vandalising public property, setting a police vehicle on fire and attacking provincial minister Fayyaz ul Hasan Chohan.

READ MORE: CJP Khosa advises lawyers to respect judges

Following the attack, a woman died due to lack of medical attention, while several patients were forced out of the building to sit on footpaths.

As per the deceased woman’s son, his mother complained of pain, after which he tried to get hold of a doctor but the doctors went on a strike due to the attack.

Videos of the incident shared on Twitter showed police officials, clad in riot gear, were rendered helpless as a swarm of lawyers, outnumbering the law enforcement personnel, broke the entrance of the hospital.