At least 13 have been targeted in drive-by shootings over a year’s course, sparking numerous protests among the fraternity. On Thursday, the men in black coats met at the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) with members from the Sindh Bar Council (SBC), Karachi Bar Association and Malir District Bar Association in attendance. No evidence was found of these murders being personal. They reached the conclusion that killing lawyers was part of a conspiracy to incense them.
As the anger mounted, they agreed that the government and law enforcing agencies must be held responsible for being unable to stop the killings.
A seven-member delegation - Anwar Mansoor Khan, Abid Zuberi, Muhammad Aqil, Syed Haider Imam Rizvi, Muhammad Ashraf Samoo and Iftikhar Javed Kazi - called on the chief justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC). Justice Gulzar Ahmed, the senior most judge, Justices Mabool Baqar, Faisal Arab and Sajjad Ali Shah were also present.
According to the KBA secretary, the judges expressed their condolences over the killing of their comrade, Muhammad Aslam advocate and pointed out that the strikes affect litigants badly and delay the hearing of corruption cases. They expressed concern over the piling up cases because of interruptions in court work.
The delegation told the judges that they have no choice but to call for a protest. They also informed the judges of their decision to take the matter to court.
Earlier on, the lawyers boycotted court proceedings and due to their protest, judges discharged the cases fixed before them for hearing. Hundreds of other cases were adjourned by the subordinate judiciary as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2011.
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