Balochistan lawyers boycott courts

Bar Association demands safe release of Advocate Shahjehan Kasi, who has been missing for two days from near Kalat.

QUETTA: The Balochistan Bar Association boycotted court proceedings across the province on Tuesday, demanding the safe and early release of Advocate Shahjehan Kasi, who has been missing for the past two days from Mungichar area of Kalat district.

Lawyers did not appear in the lower and high courts and all the cases were adjourned to the next date of hearing .The people who had come for the hearing complained that the strikes had become a matter of routine and cases were not being properly heard. They are made to wait for the disposal of cases for months.

According to Balochistan Bar Association president Baz Mohammad Kakar, a strike was also observed in other districts including Mastung, Zhob, Harnai, Jaffarabad, Khuzdar, Kalat, Lasbela, Turbat, Panjgur, Gwadar, Pasni, Killa Abdullah and Sherani.

“He (Shahjehan Kasi) has been kidnapped and police should make efforts for his safe recovery and also take concrete steps to break up the chain of the culprits involved in these crimes,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune November 3^rd, 2010.