Mardan blast: Lawyers boycott courts in protest

ISLAMABAD: Lawyers in Islamabad observed strike on Monday in protest against the September 2 suicide blast in a courtroom in Mardan, which killed at least 14 people.

The strike was observed on the call of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC).

Lawyers at district courts, the Islamabad High Court as well as the Supreme Court boycotted the proceedings.

Most litigants were just given new dates due to the strike.

Lawyers’ bodies in their statements condemned the recent attacks that have targeted the lawyers.

They demanded that the government take steps to prevent such attacks in the future. They also demanded that the culprits be arrested and brought to book.

Meanwhile, the police have tightened security at court premises in Islamabad.

Police strength at entrances to the courts has been increased and checking tightened as a precautionary measure.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2016.