Attack on ATC court

Letter October 06, 2011
The group of lawyers that took part in this ransacking should be identified and punished for vandalism.

WAH CANTT: The ransacking by a group of lawyers of the courtroom of the ATC judge who gave a guilty verdict to Mumtaz Qadri is worthy of the highest condemnation. The lawyers, who were protesting against the decision, smashed windows and broke furniture and the judge had to leave from the back door. Reports suggest that he has now gone on leave.

Lawyers are generally considered among the more educated of society’s members, mainly because their profession relates to the upholding of the law. So, to see a group act in such a manner, where they basically indulged in mob violence is most worrying. The proper course for them — if they disagree with the verdict — is to appeal it before a superior court.


The group of lawyers that took part in this ransacking should be identified and punished for vandalism and for contempt. Furthermore, the ATC judge should be provided extra security by the government. We would not want to see a repeat of what happened to Salmaan Taseer— or else the judge may have to seek refuge in a foreign country.


Raziq Hussain


Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2011.