Karachi Lawyers Protest After Attack on Colleague
In Karachi, Pakistan, lawyers from the Sindh Bar Council and Karachi Bar Association (KBA) staged a boycott of legal proceedings at City Courts and District Court Malir. This protest was in response to an attack on lawyers who were demonstrating against police inaction following the torture of their colleague, Advocate Abdul Fatah.
The lawyers blocked all entrances to the City Courts, preventing access for litigants and judicial officials. Consequently, under-trial prisoners were not brought in for hearings. The protest was discussed during a KBA general body meeting led by General Secretary Ikhtiar Ali Channa and President Amir Nawaz Warraich.
The KBA reported that when lawyers gathered for a peaceful protest on Korangi Road, they were attacked by individuals with stones and batons, allegedly with police oversight. Several motorcycles were set on fire, and many lawyers, including Sindh Bar Council member Iqbal Inayat Jatoi, were injured.
The KBA passed a resolution accusing SSP East Dr Farrukh Raza of bias and directing the Mahmoodabad SHO not to file an FIR regarding the lawyers’ complaints. The resolution called for action against SSP Raza, SP Clifton Majida Halepoto, SHO Aijaz Khattak, and other police personnel for creating a climate of fear and harassment towards lawyers. It also demanded the removal of SHO Khattak and the suspension or transfer of SSP Raza, SP Halepoto, and SHO Defence Ghulam Nabi Afridi.
Doubts Revealed
Karachi -: Karachi is a large city in Pakistan, which is a country that shares a border with India. It is known for being a major financial and industrial hub.
Lawyers -: Lawyers are people who study and practice law. They help people understand legal issues and represent them in court.
Sindh Bar Council -: The Sindh Bar Council is an organization of lawyers in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It helps regulate the legal profession and protect the rights of lawyers.
Karachi Bar Association -: The Karachi Bar Association is a group of lawyers in Karachi. They work together to support each other and address legal issues in the city.
Boycotting -: Boycotting means refusing to participate in something as a form of protest. In this case, lawyers stopped working in courts to show their disagreement with the police’s actions.
City Courts and District Court Malir -: These are places in Karachi where legal cases are heard and decided. City Courts handle cases within the city, while District Court Malir deals with cases in the Malir district.
Advocate Abdul Fatah -: Advocate Abdul Fatah is a lawyer who was reportedly tortured, leading to protests by other lawyers demanding justice for him.
Colluding -: Colluding means secretly working together with someone, often to do something wrong or illegal. The KBA accused police of working with the attackers.
Police accountability -: Police accountability means holding police officers responsible for their actions, especially if they do something wrong. The lawyers wanted the police to be answerable for their inaction.
