Lawyers boycott courts to protest against Rohingyas crisis in Myanmar

PSP, MWM to hold protest, PTI tables resolution in Sindh Assembly

KARACHI: Joining the worldwide condemnation of violence against the Rohingya ethnic Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Burma, lawyers' boycotted on Tuesday legal proceedings in the city to express solidarity with the victims.

At the Sindh High Court (SHC), the members of the legal fraternity did not turn up to plead their cases fixed for the day.

A general body meeting of the SHC Bar Association (SHCBA) was held where the members declared the violence by Buddhists and subsequent migration of the Rohingya as the worst form of inhumane behaviour.

They also condemned the silence of the world leaders on the conditions of the thousands of Rohingya migrants stranded on Bangladesh's border as Dhaka was not letting them in.



They demanded Islamabad use diplomatic channels against Burma and lodge its protest internationally on the fresh spate of violence against the Muslim minority in the Arakan state, where the Buddhists have allegedly been subjecting them to violence for long.

The lawyers' boycott resulted in the adjournment of hundreds of cases fixed for the day at the high court, where work had started after a four-day holiday on account of Eidul Azha.

'It's sad to see Islamic world's silence on this issue'

The silence of the international community, organisation of Islamic state and United Nations is a question mark and disrespect to the innocent loss of lives of Muslims in Myanmar.

This was expressed by of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) General Secretary Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi who was addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday along with other party leaders.



Naqvi said that for years Rohingya Muslims have been facing brutality under the state of Myanmar and the recent act of violence against them does not meet any example where they are brutally killing and burning innocent children and women.

Naqvi also said that it was sad to see that not only non-Muslim nations, but the Islamic world is also silent on the atrocities against Rohingya Muslims. The whole world must be laughing on the condition and lack of unity of Muslim community in the world as we have failed to save our Rohingya brothers from brutal atrocities, he added.

He also questioned the Islamic military alliance and said that it was created to safeguard the Muslim world but it has turned a blind eye towards Myanmar where thousands of Muslims have already lost their lives till now.

He said the Pakistan government, being an important Islamic country, should play its role and ask other Muslim states to take serious diplomatic action against the state of Myanmar.



Naqvi also announced a rally, 'Himayat-e-Mazloomeen', on Friday to express solidarity with the victim Muslims of Myanmar.

PSP announces protest

The Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) announced a protest demonstration today (Wednesday) outside the Karachi Press Club against the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The decision to hold the protest was taken in a joint meeting of the central executive committee and national council of PSP at its headquarters, Pakistan House, on Tuesday, a spokesperson of the party said.

A day ago, PSP Secretary-General Raza Haroon had written a letter to the United Nations, appealing to take measures against what it described as ethnic cleansing of the Rohingyas Muslim population in the Southeast Asian country.



The party has asked all religious and political parties and civil and human rights groups to join them in the protest.

PTI submits resolution in Sindh Assembly

Meanwhile, the lawmakers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tabled on Tuesday a resolution in the Sindh Assembly to condemn the Myanmar government for its persecution and oppression against Rohingya Muslims.

The joint resolution was moved by MPAs Khurrum Sher Zaman , Dr Seema Zia and Samar Ali Khan.



"The tyranny against the Muslims by the Myanmar government has been going on for decades. Around 1.1 million Muslims have lived for centuries over there, but they are now the world's most persecuted minority. They have been denied citizenship since 1982, which has made them stateless," read the resolution.

"We demand the federal government raise this issue at international forums such as the United Nations and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation so the Muslims can get their due rights," it read.