Sectarian violence: PHC takes suo motu notice of Shia lawyer’s killing

Notices were issued to IGP, secretary home and tribal affairs.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday took suo motu notice of the killing of senior lawyer Malik Jarrar Hussain and the alleged torture of Advocate Furqan by the police.

Notices were issued to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) inspector general police, secretary home and tribal affairs, Peshawar police chief, assistant superintendent police and two constables. The respondents have to reply to the court by February 14 (tomorrow).

The notice was taken by the PHC after receiving an application by the PHC Bar Association (PHCBA) following a meeting of a committee headed by PHCBA President Abdul Latif Afridi with Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan.

The committee’s members requested Justice Khan to take notice of Hussain’s brutal killing. They also sought action against the police superintendent and two constables who allegedly tortured their colleague on February 7.

Meanwhile, PHCBA General Secretary Qazi Jawad announced an end to the boycott of court proceedings after the court took notice of both incidents and assured them of taking steps to bring the culprits to justice.



Lawyers across the city boycotted court proceedings for four days following the murder of Advocate Hussain, who was gunned down on Gulbahar Road by unidentified men on February 8.

Millat-e-Jafria press conference

Various organisations of Millat-e-Jafria demanded the government to establish an intelligence cell to cope with the menace of target killings in the province.

Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, the Imamia Qaumi Council and leaders of Millat-e-Jafria expressed their lack of confidence in the district administration.

Major (Retd) Syed Hasnain Haider Kazmi claimed that 90 people belonging to the Shia sect have been killed in the last 10 days, but the police have failed to arrest any culprits.

Those killed recently in sectarian violence include SP Hilal Haider, Hakim Shahid Hussain, Dr Syed Riaz Hussain, Sessions Judge Syed Ehtisham Ali Shah and lawyer Malik Jarar besides several students.

In his address, Allama Irshad Khalil denied that target killings were a result of sectarian clashes between Sunnis and Shias. According to him, anti-state elements backed by foreign spy agencies are trying to create distrust between them to destabilise the country.

He alleged anti-Shia wall chalking and arrests of innocent Shia men in the city are being carried out under a planned conspiracy.

Akhunzada Muzaffar Ali said the youth are running out of patience in the face of growing brutality against them. He added processions against the worsening security conditions will soon be taken out from all Imambargahs in the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.