Under threat: Home dept warns of possible attacks on govt law officers

Members of the legal team have asked the attorney general to transfer them to other cities

KARACHI: Law officers who are defending the provincial government in the courts may face backlash from criminals being targeted in the ongoing operation by law enforcers in Karachi.

Sources told The Express Tribune on Saturday that the Sindh Advocate General's office had recently been approached by the home department, warning the former of possible attacks on law officers performing duties at the high court's principal seat.

The home authorities believe that criminal groups had carried out recent attacks on law enforcement agencies engaged in the targeted operations to take revenge. They can also target the government's law officers, as they defended the government actions in the courts, said the source.

The home department had also inquired from the AG Office about the availability of resources to maintain security of the members of the legal team. In its report, the AG Office said that there were 28 additional and assistant advocates general, 19 of whom were appearing in courts at the SHC's principal seat.

On the other hand, there is grave concern among law officers about their own security as well as that of their family members. AG Abdul Fateh Malik met members of his team in his office in Karachi on Saturday to address their problems.

A law officer, who attended the meeting, told The Express Tribune that many of his colleagues were unwilling to continue their jobs because of these threats and have requested to be transferred to other cities of Sindh or Punjab.

AG Malik told the law officers that the situation was not as serious since the information shared by the home department was merely based on the possibility of such attacks.

When contacted, AG Malik said the situation was not as serious. He confirmed, however, that some 'indirect' warnings had been received and proper steps will be taken to address the officers' concerns.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2015.