Protest against target killing: Lawyers storm Sindh Assembly

Lawyers climbed over the Sindh Assembly gate and entered the premises to present their demands to the government

KARACHI: Malir Bar and Karachi Bar lawyers surrounded the Sindh Assembly this morning and staged a protest against target killings of lawyers, Express News reported on Monday.

Lawyers marched from the High Court to the Sindh Assembly -- where a session was being held -- and demanded the arrest of target killers.

The peaceful protest turned into a dharna as nobody stepped out from the assembly to hear the lawyers' demands.

The lawyers then climbed over the Sindh Assembly gate and entered the premises to present their demands to the government. Sindh Minister for Education Nisar Khuhro addressed the lawyers outside the assembly.

Four demands were presented to him by the lawyers asking for immediate arrest of killers, compensation for families of lawyers killed, a date for when this compensation will be presented and a request to not impose Section 144 on the lawyers.

An announcement for compensation for the families of the lawyers' killed was made earlier but has not yet been dispersed.

Khuhro assured the lawyers that their demands will be met. "We can sit and find out why it [compensation] has not been dispersed yet," he said.

The lawyers have given a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet their demands or they will stage another protest.