QUETTA:
Lawyers in Balochistan observed a ‘black day’ throughout the province on Friday, boycotting all court proceedings to condemn the killing of Additional District and Sessions Judge Zulfiqar Ali Naqvi.
Unidentified assailants gunned down Naqvi along with his driver and security guard near GOR Colony on Thursday, while he was en route to court from his residence.
Lawyers hoisted black flags at bar rooms in protest, while courts in Quetta remained deserted as they refused to appear before superior and lower courts as well as local magistrates.
Strikes were also observed by the legal community in various other cities in Balochistan, including Mastung, Pishin, Chaman, Loralai, Panjgur, Sibi, Nushki, Nasirabad, Kharan, Kalat, and Khuzdar.
The body of the slain judge was moved to Karachi via a Pakistan International Airlines flight. Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa was present on the occasion along with other judges and senior lawyers.
Meanwhile, police and security agencies carried out raids in different parts of Quetta, rounding up around 50 suspects connected to Naqvi’s murder. Police officials said the accused were detained at different police stations, adding they were being investigated and those found innocent will be released soon.
Punjab Bar Council calls for strike
Lawyers in Punjab on Friday boycotted court proceedings in the lower courts to protest the killing of Additional District and Sessions Judge Zulfiqar Ali Naqvi in Quetta.
The lawyers abstained from at all sessions at the civil courts, banking courts, sessions courts and others. The Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) called for the strike. The PbBC demanded the government to arrest the killers and ensure the protection of judges and lawyers.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2012.
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Courts should release more terrorists and they will have such an out come. CJ always think that terrorists have human rights and others don't specially the Law Enforcing Agencies. Even if the killer of this unlucky Judge is produced in the court, still he would go scot free, because the Judge will not be able to withstand the pressure of the outlawed organizations. Time has come that Military Courts are established for Terror related crimes, as the courts have failed to come up to the expectation of rule of law. The situation is not normal in Pakistan. Some drastic steps are needed. 1. Declaration of Emergency. 2. Establishment of Military Courts. 3. Imposition of martial Law in selected areas of FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Karachi.. 4. Para Military Forces employed on Internal Security Duties should be given the Powers of Arrest and Investigation. 5. Laws should be enacted for dealing with terrorists. 6. The courts should endorse a Good Character Certificate of a person arrested on terrorism Charges by the army and released by the court. 7. Financial Corruption/ Kidnapping/ gun running, drugs and explosives charges should be punishable by death.
So the sympathy with the criminals did not pay. The lesson learnt is that do not support crime and criminals.