Lawyers announce strike over AJK 'deaths'

Lawyers to boycott courts in protest against use of force in Rawalakot, Mirpur

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi District Bar Association has announced a complete strike and court boycott on Friday (today), in protest against the deaths of civilians and the alleged use of force in Rawalakot and Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Bar President Tariq Mehmood Sajid Awan said the association stood with the people of Kashmir, adding that the use of force was not a solution and instead created unrest and instability. Lawyers will not appear before courts on Friday, and the bar will hold a protest meeting.

Bar Secretary Qamarul Haq Khan Niazi said the legal community stood with the people of Rawalakot, Mirpur and the wider Kashmiri public, urging that issues be resolved peacefully through dialogue, law and justice.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the District Bar's executive committee chaired by the president and attended by all members.

The meeting strongly condemned the use of force by security forces in Rawalakot and Mirpur and expressed concern over the loss of lives, injuries and damage to property.

The association expressed condolences over the deaths, prayed for the recovery of the injured and stressed that such sensitive matters should be resolved in accordance with the rule of law, the Constitution, democratic values, tolerance and mutual respect.

It said violence and confrontation could not provide a lasting solution and urged all relevant institutions, government authorities, political and social leaders, and other stakeholders to act responsibly, prevent further escalation, ensure the protection of life and property, and conduct transparent investigations into the incidents.