Rule of law: Woman advocate assaulted by professional rivals
Faisalabad Bar Association inquiry committee’s report vindicates lawyer’s claim
Faisalabad Bar Association inquiry committee’s report vindicates lawyer’s claim. PHOTO: FILE
FAISALABAD:
A Faisalabad-based woman advocate claimed on Thursday that she had been “denigrated and beaten” by four other women advocates and their three accomplices.
The ensuing developments sent shockwaves across the legal community in the city and polarised it into two camps. In her complaint to the president of the District Bar Association (DBA), Advocate Sehrish Arif alleged that Advocates Asima Tanveer, Uzma Sindhu, Naila, Sana and their three accomplices had barged into her chambers and denigrated and beaten her in the presence of her clients.
Acting on the complaint, DBA President Malik Ayub Sialvi constituted a committee under the chairmanship of DBA Vice President Malik Safeer A Khan and directed it to probe the incident. The president directed the committee to present a report in this regard as quickly as possible. Vindicating Arif’s claims in its report, the committee held Tanveer, Sindhu, Naila, Sana and their accomplices of attacking, threatening and denigrating Arif. Acting on the findings, the DBA moved the Punjab Bar Council (PBC) to cancel the licences of the four women.
Arif told journalists that the women had been nursing a grudge against her due to professional rivalry. She said this had compelled them to attack her. Arif said several clients of hers had also witnessed the incident. Advocate Tanveer said Arif used to abuse and belittle them in the presence of men lawyers. “We urged her countless times to mend her ways and treat others politely in vain. She did not pay any heed to our pleas and continued to humiliate us before men lawyers,” she said.
Veteran lawyer attacked
Veteran lawyer Syed Nisar Ali Shah was attacked by two armed men near the Jhal Khannuana Bridge.
According to details, Advocate Shah was on his way to court from his residence in the city’s People’s Colony when the suspects stopped his vehicle and shot him. The suspects fled from the spot after attacking the veteran lawyer. Advocate Shah was taken to DHQ Hospital where he is reported to be fighting for his life.
Reacting to the incident, the DBA said lawyers would be compelled to stage a protest demonstration if those responsible for the attempt on the veteran lawyer’s life were not quickly nabbed. The DBA also moved a resolution calling for the immediate arrest of those involved in orchestrating the attack. The resolution also demanded a case to be registered under Section Seven of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The DBA also threatened to boycott court proceedings if police failed to nab the absconding suspects.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2015.
A Faisalabad-based woman advocate claimed on Thursday that she had been “denigrated and beaten” by four other women advocates and their three accomplices.
The ensuing developments sent shockwaves across the legal community in the city and polarised it into two camps. In her complaint to the president of the District Bar Association (DBA), Advocate Sehrish Arif alleged that Advocates Asima Tanveer, Uzma Sindhu, Naila, Sana and their three accomplices had barged into her chambers and denigrated and beaten her in the presence of her clients.
Acting on the complaint, DBA President Malik Ayub Sialvi constituted a committee under the chairmanship of DBA Vice President Malik Safeer A Khan and directed it to probe the incident. The president directed the committee to present a report in this regard as quickly as possible. Vindicating Arif’s claims in its report, the committee held Tanveer, Sindhu, Naila, Sana and their accomplices of attacking, threatening and denigrating Arif. Acting on the findings, the DBA moved the Punjab Bar Council (PBC) to cancel the licences of the four women.
Arif told journalists that the women had been nursing a grudge against her due to professional rivalry. She said this had compelled them to attack her. Arif said several clients of hers had also witnessed the incident. Advocate Tanveer said Arif used to abuse and belittle them in the presence of men lawyers. “We urged her countless times to mend her ways and treat others politely in vain. She did not pay any heed to our pleas and continued to humiliate us before men lawyers,” she said.
Veteran lawyer attacked
Veteran lawyer Syed Nisar Ali Shah was attacked by two armed men near the Jhal Khannuana Bridge.
According to details, Advocate Shah was on his way to court from his residence in the city’s People’s Colony when the suspects stopped his vehicle and shot him. The suspects fled from the spot after attacking the veteran lawyer. Advocate Shah was taken to DHQ Hospital where he is reported to be fighting for his life.
Reacting to the incident, the DBA said lawyers would be compelled to stage a protest demonstration if those responsible for the attempt on the veteran lawyer’s life were not quickly nabbed. The DBA also moved a resolution calling for the immediate arrest of those involved in orchestrating the attack. The resolution also demanded a case to be registered under Section Seven of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The DBA also threatened to boycott court proceedings if police failed to nab the absconding suspects.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2015.