Show of solidarity: Lawyers boycott courts to protest colleague's kidnapping

KARACHI/SUKKUR:

The legal fraternity boycotted court proceedings across the province on Monday to express their anger over the kidnapping of a lawyer from Khairpur and the attack on the principal of a law college in Karachi.

Lawyer Ali Mutahir Shar, who is the son of the Sindh High Court Sukkur bench additional advocate general, Liaqat Ali Shar, was on the way to Bhit Shah from Khairpur with three friends when they were kidnapped. Their car was found abandoned near Malik Chaudagi in Thari Mir Wah police limits.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Mutahir's uncle, Shabbir Shar confirmed the incident, adding that the police had not started any efforts to locate the kidnapped persons yet.

Responding to the call of the Sindh Bar Council, the legal fraternity boycotted court proceedings and staged demonstrations to condemn their colleague's kidnapping. The lawyers also condemned the attack on the principal of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Law College in Karachi.

This was fourth day of boycott at the courts in one month. Earlier, the legal fraternity had boycotted proceedings to protest the attack on democratic institutions by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek activists.

Thousands of cases fixed for the day at different courts had to be adjourned without any progress. Likewise, a large number of under-trial prisoners had to be shifted back to the barracks without their production in the respective courts.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2014.