In protest: Lawyers to observe three-day strike in Sindh

They demand recovery of SHC CJ's son and release of 'falsely implicated' fellow lawyer

KARACHI: The lawyers' fraternity announced on Saturday a three-day province-wide strike over the abduction of Sindh High Court (SHC) chief justice's son and implication of a lawyer in a robbery case.

Barrister Ovias Ali Shah, son of SHC top judge, was kidnapped by armed men in plainclothes wearing police caps from outside Agha Supermarket in Clifton on June 20. While, Advocate Ibrahim Abro was arrested in Gulshan-e-Hadeed area on July 13 over his alleged involvement in a number of crimes such as robberies, kidnapping and others.

During a press conference on Saturday, Karachi Bar Association president Mehmoodul Hasan said the police have failed to protect the citizens. Even the judges and lawyers feel unsafe to continue with their work, he added.

Hasan said that despite a passage of more than three weeks investigators still could not trace whereabouts of Shah. Over the arrest of Abro, he opined that police lodged a false case against him. If Abro was involved in crimes, he should have been presented in a court within 24 hours of his arrest as required by the law, he claimed.

Speaking about Amjad Sabri's murder and Shah's abduction, he said that Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja should be removed from his post for failing at controlling the law and order situation in the city.

Explaining the strike course, he said that court proceedings will be boycotted and rallies and meetings will be held. A convention over the current situation will be held at SHC on July 23, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2016.