Baloch lawyers to boycott courts
The Balochistan Bar Association (BBA) has announced a province-wide boycott of court proceedings starting June 28.
The Balochistan Bar Association (BBA) has announced a province-wide boycott of court proceedings starting June 28 to protest the kidnapping of a lawyer from Khuzdar district.
General Secretary of the Jhalawan Bar Association, Munir Ahmed Mirwani was abducted at gunpoint by unidentified men on June 17.
BBA President Baz Mohammed Kakar announced the protest in a press conference held at Quetta Press Club on Friday. Bar members will also hold a street demonstration condemning Mirwani’s abduction and go to Khuzdar to meet Mirwani’s family to express complete solidarity with them.
Kakar said that lawyers will not appear before superior or lower courts after June 28. “The law and order situation is deteriorating and no one is secure, including lawyers and doctors. If Mirwani is not recovered soon and safe, we will intensify agitation throughout Pakistan,” he said. On Wednesday, doctors and medical students in Quetta had organised a rally to demand safe and immediate recovery of missing doctors who they alleged had been picked up by security forces.
Kakar said that a united front among lawyers, political parties, doctors, engineers, and members of civil society was needed to wage struggle for the rule of law in Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2010.
General Secretary of the Jhalawan Bar Association, Munir Ahmed Mirwani was abducted at gunpoint by unidentified men on June 17.
BBA President Baz Mohammed Kakar announced the protest in a press conference held at Quetta Press Club on Friday. Bar members will also hold a street demonstration condemning Mirwani’s abduction and go to Khuzdar to meet Mirwani’s family to express complete solidarity with them.
Kakar said that lawyers will not appear before superior or lower courts after June 28. “The law and order situation is deteriorating and no one is secure, including lawyers and doctors. If Mirwani is not recovered soon and safe, we will intensify agitation throughout Pakistan,” he said. On Wednesday, doctors and medical students in Quetta had organised a rally to demand safe and immediate recovery of missing doctors who they alleged had been picked up by security forces.
Kakar said that a united front among lawyers, political parties, doctors, engineers, and members of civil society was needed to wage struggle for the rule of law in Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2010.