Demanding safety: Lawyers boycott courts in Gilgit over security concerns

Strike called after man shot dead at Chief Court premises.

GILGIT:

Lawyers have boycotted legal proceedings in Gilgit to protest the killing of a man at the premises of the city’s court.

The strike was called by the Gilgit High Court Bar Association after one Tahir Ahmed was shot dead by gunmen near the entrance of the Chief Court on Wednesday. Ahmed was about to enter the court to attend a hearing the time. He was reportedly shot over a personal rivalry.

The police on duty arrested the assailants immediately, but the legal fraternity claimed the action was not enough to address their security concerns at the court’s premises.

“This is unacceptable. We will continue to protest till proper security measures are put in place,” said Gilgit High Court Bar Association President Advocate Shafqat Wali. “We want foolproof security at the court’s premises for the safety of lawyers and others,” Wali told The Express Tribune on Sunday.

Lawyers have suggested a mechanism to improve security around the courts where at least 11 people have been gunned down in similar cases over the past five years.

“We are in contact with judges over the issue and, hopefully, things will be normal in a day or two,” said Wali, who won the bar elections this month to become the president.

Meanwhile, hearings of all cases were adjourned as a result of the boycott.

“There are thousands of cases pending and such strikes will create more trouble for people,” said Nadeem Khan, a litigant.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2014.