Judiciary pays homage to martyred lawyers

Over 70 people had been killed in a suicide attack on August 8, 2016

QUETTA: Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Noor Meskanzai has said the wounds in “our hearts have not yet healed” from the gruesome incident of August 8, 2016 in which over 70 people, mostly lawyers, were martyred.

The chief justice stated this during a condolence reference held at the Session Court organised by the Balochistan High Court Bar Association and Balochistan Bar Association on Tuesday. Judges from all lower and upper courts and a large number of the lawyer community were present.



The Balochistan lawyers paid homage to their martyred colleagues on the second anniversary of Civil Hospital, Quetta’s suicide attack on lawyers.

Over 70 people, majority of them lawyers, were martyred while hundreds were injured in one of the deadliest blasts in Pakistan’s history.

Addressing the condolence reference, CJ Meskanzai said, “People of the country, forces, judges and lawyers have given immense sacrifices in the war against terrorism, and I want to assure that judges are standing with the lawyer community in order to address their issues.”



He said the tragedy of August 8, 2016 reminded them of the sacrifices their brothers rendered for justice in society. “We all have to work together to revitalise the mission of our slain colleagues,” the CJ added.

“The wounds inside our hearts are still fresh as we lost dozens of lawyers, including senior colleagues,” said Meskanzai, adding that lawyers should prepare a code of conduct, which the “judiciary will support”.

Former Supreme Court Bar Association president Ali Ahmed Kurd said, “We are heirs of their [martyred lawyers] mission. There should not have been injustice with the suppressed people after the August 8, 2016 blast, but unfortunately people are still deprived of justice.

“Today, people are pointing fingers at courts’ judgments. No one is satisfied by the way the judiciary, particularly in upper courts, has been dealing with affairs,” said Kurd, adding that society cannot be run unless justice is provided to the lower class.