In condemnation: Lawyers, civil society condemn Samiullah’s murder

PESHAWAR/ CHARSADDA:

Lawyers and civil society organisations condemned the murder of Samiullah Afridi, the former lawyer of Dr Shakil Afridi.

The legal fraternity in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa boycotted court proceedings on Wednesday in protest.

The strike was called by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council. A large number of lawyers did not attend proceedings at Peshawar High Court and the lower courts. As a result, hundreds of cases which were fixed before various benches were not heard.

Members of the PHC Bar Association gathered in the bar room of the high court and held special prayers for the departed.

Speaking to the media, General Secretary Muhammad Ayaz Khan said lawyers strongly condemned Samiullah’s murder. “He was an outspoken lawyer who criticised rights violations in the tribal belt,” he said. Khan also urged the government to provide security to the lawyers in the province.

Lawyers in Charsadda also boycotted courts on Wednesday. They pressed a resolution, asking the government to provide safety to lawyers across the country.

During a meeting held after the deceased lawyer’s funeral, political workers, activists and tribespeople urged the government to announce a prestigious award in the slain lawyer’s name.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2015.