SARGODHA: The District Bar Association (DBA) boycotted courts on Friday and locked sessions and civil courts in protest against police.

They demanded suspension of the Cantonment station house office and the city deputy superintendent of police.

The standoff between lawyers and police stemmed from a brawl between lawyers and traders on Thursday.

Lawyers lodged a report with the Cantonment police which arrested traders but later released them when city traders pressed them.

Lawyers blocked Session Road on Friday and raised slogans against police at the DPO office.

Punjab Bar Council member Malik Afzal Farooka, addressing the DBA general meeting, criticised traders and police.

Naseer Ahmad Cheema demanded a terror case against traders for harassing the lawyers.

He said if the police continued with such a conduct, lawyers would be forced to adopt coercive measures to get justice.

DBA President Chaudhry Arshad Hinjra said they would forcibly close shops on Session Road if they were not provided justice.