LAHORE-Lawyers again went on the rampage on Thursday as they manhandled newsmen at Lahore High Court premises besides using abusive language and chanting slogans against the Chief Justice Lahore High Court apparently for taking suo moto notice of lawyers torture on journalists on July 30. A large number of lawyers were present in the court room to attend the hearing of suo moto notice and most of them were in a mood to confront the bench comprising reinstated judges. They violated court decorum several times by interrupting judges for which Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif had to ask them repeatedly in strong words to maintain discipline. Only a handful of journalists were there for coverage. The lawyers, who were around 500, gathered inside and outside the courtroom since morning which reflected their hidden designs. Though there was a sufficient strength of police personnel stationed there to counter any untoward incident, yet they were removed prior to adjournment of proceedings on the complaint of lawyers. As the bench was rising, they started hooting against the judge, however, they went to their chambers without passing any remarks. After the adjournment of hearing till August 13, the lawyers came out of the court room and started chanting slogans against LHC CJ and the media persons. They used abusive language. The mob was led by Awan, Vice President of the Lahore Bar Association who had been at the forefront of all the recent incident of manhandling with media persons. Professional Group led by Hamid Khan had supported Awan in LBA election but surprisingly he had never come forward to stop his VP rather his group from blaming PCO judges for exploiting the situation. But their assertion is denied by the fact that first incident of manhandling media persons was happened on July 30 when the Supreme Court judgement against PCO judges was not passed. But it is a fact that the President Lahore High Court Bar Association, the President Lahore Bar Association, the VP(Awan) and Secretary LBA, the Finance Secretary LHCBA all belong to Hamid Khans group. Yet they have miserably failed to stop or take action against what they call some 'miscreant elements in their ranks. Afterwards these lawyers started chasing the handful media men gathered there for the coverage of the proceedings. They went to parking lot where the DSNG vans of different news channels were parked. The desperate lawyers led by Vice President Lahore Bar Association Awan launched attack on reporters and cameramen, thrashed them and tried to force them out of the court premises. During their attack spree the frantic lawyers kept on hurling abusive language against media and judges especially against Chief Justice LHC apparently for taking suo moto notice against lawyers highhandedness. The lawyers pelted stones on officials vans of journalists and also broke camera of a TV cameraman AR Adnan besides giving him a good thrashing. Earlier, during the hearing, senior advocate AK Dogar appearing on behalf of accused lawyers told the bench that a committee comprising lawyers and journalists had been constituted, which would review the facts. The bench also sent 18 references of judicial officers against lawyers to Advocate General Punjab for legal opinion. Later, the journalists also held a protest demo at GPO Chowk, The Mall against lawyers torture on media men at the premises of Lahore High Court and demanded strict action against the responsible. The journalists also staged a sit-in for about two hours and kept the road blocked during their protest. The protesters belonging to print and electronic media were chanting slogans against lawyers and demanding the govt to ensure security of the journalists. They said the torture incidents of lawyers on journalists one after another showed that media was not independent and some forces were trying to gag it for showing their true picture. Speaking on the occasion, President PUJ Ahsan Zia said that the lawyers had forgotten when media was standing by them throughout their movement for restoration of judiciary. He said success of their movement without media was impossible. He said that the journalists would continue protest till strict action against the accused lawyers was taken. He said that the bails of accused lawyers who were already on bails, should be cancelled. Secretary Lahore Press Club Zahid Abid said, 'Enough is enough. We would not tolerate such incidents any more and would adopt strict measures to counter them. On the occasion President Court Reporters Associations Lahore Saeed Chaudhry said the lawyer namely M.R Awan who was leading action against journalist belonged to Hamid Khan group, so Khan who was a flag-bearer of lawyers movement should play his positive role to stop torture against media. He said the leaders of lawyers had promised to control the desperate lawyers but they miserably failed to honour their words. He said the lawyers leaders claimed that the associates of removed PCO-judges were behind these torture incidents but did not take any action against such elements. He announced that the court reporters would observe complete boycott of lawyers activities till the responsible were not arrested and taken to the task. During the journalists protest heavy contingents of police reached the spot and cordoned off the area by restricting the traffic to approach to the protest point. The police did not stop the protesting journalists, however, they dispersed peacefully after about two hours Punjab Union of Journalists and Lahore Press Club have deplored the incident in strong words and announced to set up a 'Freedom of Press camp at club premises besides hoisting black flags on rooftop of the buildings. They have also banned lawyers entry in the club and PUJ building and dumped all negotiations with lawyers representatives. They also announced to boycott media coverage of lawyers all activities. They demanded of the Bar Associations to throw out black sheep from their ranks and take stringent action against them to discourage such elements. They also said court premises have been made no go areas for the media person and it would be impossible for them to perform their duties in such intimidating atmosphere.