The act of madness in Lahore by lawyer community’s on Wednesday condemnable and it’s is already past. And the government will now be judged for how swiftly it makes the lawyers responsible face the full force of the law. Already its reputation about ensuring justice, when criminals are backed by strong institutions, is not much to write home about. Perhaps this tragedy is a good moment for some manner of redemption. Punjab Police on Thursday registered two cases against 250 lawyers under various criminal charges for allegedly attacking Pakistan Institute of Cardiology (PIC) and ransacking the property in Lahore a day earlier. A first information report (FIR) was registered against 200-250 unidentified lawyers on the complaint of an official of the hospital, while another was registered on the complaint of police in which 15 lawyers were nominated.

The provincial capital remained under the grip of fear and chaos as angry lawyers attacked the PIC, leaving three patients dead as riots and vandalism began in and outside the facility. Punjab Health Minister Yasmeen Rashid later told the media that the casualties took place after doctors were unable to provide the patients timely treatment during their bid to avert the assault. A groups of more than 200 lawyers, who had ongoing issues with the doctors of the PIC, stormed the hospital, vandalised property and damaged dozens of vehicles of visitors. They also set ablaze a police van. The LHBCA has called a province-wide strike against the arrests made by police. The police have detained several lawyers who were believed to be involved in the violence The provincial government also deployed personnel of Punjab Rangers at 10 locations in Lahore in order to control the situation.

That the lawyer community has degenerated into an out-of-control, law-breaking bunch of gangs is no longer breaking news. And while this particular phenomenon might have been one of the many unintended consequences of the famous 2007 lawyers movement, there’s still no denying that the judiciary has long been one of the most unruly and corrupt institutions in the country. Several others needing emergency treatment were left stranded in ambulances outside the Battleground PIC. The total lives lost numbered between 3 and 6, according to different claims. They are known for doing it on streets. They have even done it at courts. But how could they choose a hospital and that too for treating heart patients for a protest venue. But they did it, without a shred of remorse. They crashed the public-sector hospital, vandalised public property on the hospital premises torched vehicles parked in the roads, and even ransacked the intensive care unit, forcing the doctors and the paramedics on duty to run for their lives. Left unattended, several patients according to a doctor lost their lives.

Even a provincial minister, Fayyaz-ul Hasan Chauhan, who had arrived at the scene for calming the protesters down and listening to their concerns, was treated scornfully thumped, jeered at, and dragged by the hair. Having avenged their ‘dishonour’ from the ‘mocking video’ and satiated their egos, the disdainful lawyers eased out of the place raising spirited chants and flashing victory signs. And the police could only nab two dozen from among the hundreds of these hooligans. The Prime Minister has taken a notice of the violent protest. These guardians of law must be taught how to respect the law. No one should go scot-free, time for the government to enforce its writ. Hospitals are spared even in the most savage wars. If a segment of our society had the audacity to attack one of the city’s most sensitive hospitals, and considered its actions justified, then indeed a very strong example needs to be made of them.