Demanding justice: Silence observed across courts, as lawyers condemn colleague’s murder

SHC Bar Association President demanded that the government punish the culprits responsible for Rehman's murder.


Our Correspondent/APP May 09, 2014
Lawyers boycotted legal proceedings at Sindh High Court (SHC). PHOTO: INP

KARACHI:


The legal proceedings came to a standstill across the city on Friday as lawyers protested the murder of their colleague, Rashid Rehman, in Multan allegedly for representing a blasphemy suspect.


Lawyers boycotted legal proceedings at Sindh High Court (SHC), the city courts, Malir district courts, the special courts and the tribunals. Hundreds of cases at SHC, were as a result, adjourned as lawyers did not turn up to plead the cases. Rehman was a human rights activist, who was shot dead by unknown assailants and his murder has spread fear in the lawyers community. "This is a serious human rights issue," said the Sindh High Court Bar Association's President ZK Jatoi, while expressing his shock over the incident.

Jatoi demanded that the government punish the culprits responsible for Rehman's murder. The bar association will also be holding a general body meeting on May 12 as part of their protest.

Karachi Bar Association President Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed criticised the authorities for their failure to protect Rehman. "Our stance is that lawyers should not be prevented from carrying out their professional duty and that nobody should be condemned unheard," said Ahmed.

Ahmed also called upon the bar council to take notice of the conduct of the lawyers themselves who had threatened Rehman inside the courtroom.

The lawyer community of Hyderabad also participated in the strike and staged a protest outside Hyderabad Press Club, demanding the arrest of Rehman's murderers.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2014.

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