Despite the passage of almost six months, no efforts have been made by the Sindh government to set up a judicial commission to probe killings of lawyers in the province. On August 3 last year, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, in the presence of Senior Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, had promised the lawyers’ community of formulating a tribunal to investigate the rising incidents of lawyers being targeted.
Shah had said of writing a letter to the Sindh High Court chief justice asking him to appoint any serving high court judge for the judicial commission within four days. However, despite several reminders sent by lawyers, the government is yet to take up the issue. Within the first 25 days of the new year, six lawyers have been killed in the Karachi division. Last year, 24 lawyers were targeted all over Sindh, with half of them in Karachi alone, but the majority of the killers are still at large.
During the Supreme Court’s suo motu case on the law and order situation of Karachi, several lawyers had appeared before the bench and presented their cases, submitting details about the assassinations of their colleagues. The apex court had directed the federal and provincial governments to ensure the protection of lives of all citizens, including lawyers.
No judicial probe over lawyers’ murders even after 6 months
