Patwar Association, APCA go on strike in support of Quetta AC

Threaten to expand strike to rest of the province if action not taken against ‘bullying lawyers’

QUETTA: The Patwar Association and the All Pakistan Clerk Association (APCA), Balochistan on Friday went on a strike, leaving all official work, in protest against what they called “injustice with Quetta Assistant Commissioner Sania Safi”.

A First Information Report (FIR) had been lodged against AC Safi on Wednesday after a brawl took place between her guards and a group of lawyers over an illegal parking issue.

The lawyers’ community boycotted court proceedings on Thursday against the incident, giving a seven-day ultimatum to the government to suspend the AC and her guards.



In solidarity with Safi, the APCA and Patwar Association announced a strike and left government office in protest against the FIR registered against the AC.

Patwar Association President Asad Mari said, “The assistant commissioner was busy taking action against encroachments and illegal parking, which is her duty, but unfortunately a group of lawyers threatened and abused Sania Safi, which is against the Baloch and Pashtun customs.

“Judiciary is the second pillar of the state, but unfortunately in our country the pioneers of law are breaking it. We haven’t seen such a precedent where an FIR is lodged against a government official for implementing the law.”

The Patwar Association and APCA announced that in the first phase they boycotted official work only in Quetta, but if action against the “bullying lawyers” was not taken the strike would expand to the rest of the province.

The provincial government has set up an inquiry committee to determine the party responsible for the clash between lawyers and district administration.