ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore used tear gas and batons on Wednesday to disperse hundreds of lawyers protesting the relocation of civil courts in Model Town, with live images of the clashes broadcast by local news channels.
The Lahore Bar Association, which organized the protest, also criticized authorities for registering terrorism cases against its members in an attempt to silence dissent.
As the demonstration unfolded in front of the Lahore High Court, lawyers attempted to remove barriers set up by the police to enter the building.
The police responded with tear gas, batons and water cannons, arresting dozens of lawyers.
Speaking to Pakistan’s Geo News channel, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Faisal Kamran stated that while law enforcement showed restraint, they would not permit any breaches of the law.
“The police are demonstrating maximum patience and restraint,” he said, noting they only used tear gas after lawyers threw stones at them.
He added that one station house officer and one constable were injured.
Protests by lawyers are relatively common in Pakistan and have been a notable aspect of the country’s political and social landscape. These protests can be sparked by a variety of issues ranging from judicial appointments and legal reforms to specific grievances related to court administration and the treatment of lawyers themselves.
Local news channels reported the clashes in Lahore disrupted traffic, creating inconvenience for commuters on The Mall and surrounding areas.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s planning minister has invited China to collaborate with Islamabad in setting up industrial zones to manufacture electric cars amid a renewed push to attract foreign investment, state news agency APP reported on Wednesday. 
The government of Pakistan approved an ambitious National Electric Vehicles Policy (NEVP) in 2019 with the goal of electric vehicles comprising 30 percent of all passenger vehicle and heavy-duty truck sales by 2030, and an even more ambitious target of 90 percent by 2040. For two- and three-wheelers, as well as buses, the policy set a goal of achieving 50 percent of new sales by 2030 and 90 percent by 2040.
In a meeting with Chinese officials on Tuesday, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal invited them to collaborate on the production of electric cars.
“He emphasized Pakistan’s aim to establish industrial zones for the manufacturing of electric cars in collaboration with China, leveraging Pakistan’s competitive advantage to reduce overall production costs and create employment opportunities for Pakistani workers,” APP reported.
Earlier this year, Sazgar Engineering, one of Pakistan’s leading car manufacturers, unveiled the electric vehicle “ORA 3,” manufactured in collaboration with Chinese car manufacturer Great Wall Motors (GWM).
The urban areas of Pakistan exhibit some of the world’s highest levels of air pollution, primarily due to sub-2.5 μm particulate emissions. This issue significantly impairs both the country’s economy and the quality of life of its residents. Road transport is a significant contributor to air pollution as around 23 percent of Pakistan’s greenhouse gas emissions originate from vehicles. 
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met a delegation of Japanese industrialists in Islamabad and invited them to invest in Pakistan’s electric automotive industry. 
“There is a wide potential for investment in the electric vehicle industry in Pakistan and Japanese companies with the best technology can take full advantage of it,” Sharif told the Japanese group.