Lawless locality: Sessions judge gunned down in Rawalpindi

Lawyers announce three-day strike.

ISLAMABAD: A judge was gunned down at his home on Wednesday becoming the latest victim in a wave of criminal incidents taking place within the jurisdiction of Sadiqabad Police Station.

Police said Additional District and Sessions Judge Tahir Khan Niazi, who hails from Mianwali, was killed by unidentified men at around 1:30pm at his residence in Satellite Town. Following the shooting, Niazi was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Later, the body was taken to District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem.

City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Abbasi said three unidentified attackers entered the judge’s house and opened fire, adding they later escaped on a motorcycle. “A bullet hit the judge in the ribs and ultimately resulted in his death,” he said.

The CPO said the judge was conducting the jail trial of Sabra Bibi’s murder which involves Taji Khokhar but it would be too early to say it this was related to the case or a personal enmity.

A Rawalpindi police spokesperson conjectured that the murder could be the result of a ‘family clash.’ He said two policemen accompanied the judge during office hours but no security personnel were present with the judge when the incident took place.

Despite the high-profile nature of the murder, Sadiqabad SHO said he had no information to share since no application had been filed by anyone following the murder.

SHO Malik Allah Yar said police were trying to obtain information on their own through different sources.

Meanwhile, the legal community has expressed grave concern over the killing and announced a three-day strike to mourn the slain judge. Rawalpindi District Bar Association President GM Shah said the bar had given a 48-hour ultimatum to the police and the city administration for arresting the killers.

Pointing out the state of lawlessness in Sadiqabad, Shah said a lawyer, Fiaz Shah and two of his relatives were shot dead a few months ago.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2015.