Amid a peaceful strike observed in several Shia-dominated area of the city, the lawyers’ fraternity boycotted court proceedings throughout Sindh on Thursday.
Different bar associations observed a black day on the appeal of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), the Sindh Bar Council and the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) to protest the murder of three Shia lawyers near the city courts a day earlier.
The Shia Ulema Council (SUC) had also announced a call for protest against the continuous killings of members of the Fiqah-e-Jafaria.
Shops and markets remained closed in Malir, Ancholi, Guru Mandir, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Rizvia Society and some parts of Nazimabad to mourn the death of the three lawyers.
Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan convened a meeting of police officials to review the law and order situation in the city, where he announced Rs 1 million for those who identify or help the law enforcement agencies in arresting the lawyers’ killers.
Judges of the Sindh High Court (SHC), including Chief Justice (CJ) Mushir Alam, especially participated in the lawyers’ general body meeting on Thursday. Alam said when the judiciary performs its constitutional role, it is blamed for stepping out of line and warned to stay in its limits, but it should be made clear that when other institutions responsible for protecting the citizens do not perform their basic duties, then the judiciary has to play its due role, and the judiciary will remind the institutions to perform their duties.
SCBA President Yasin Azad said a committee comprising representatives of police and lawyers monitoring the investigations of lawyers’ murder be constituted and the police be asked to submit weekly reports to the committee.
During the proceedings of Alam’s suo motu case, the CJ asked lawyers’ leaders to suggest the names of lawyers’ representatives for the proposed committee and also submit their proposals in written.
The CJ directed the IGP to submit the investigation report of the three lawyers’ murder in the SHC within a week.
Meanwhile, the funeral prayers of the three lawyers were offered in Darbar-e-Hussaini, Malir and the deceased were later buried in the Model Colony Graveyard. A large number of people, including lawyers and civil society activists, participated in the funeral.
The mourners also blocked the Shahrah-e-Faisal at Malir Halt and Kala Board by burning tyres. Due to the blockade, the traffic coming from the National Highway and Shahrah-e-Faisal was disrupted for over two hours.
Business activities resumed after the victims’ funereal prayers had been offered. The roads were also opened for vehicular traffic after the funereal procession ended. A large number of police and paramilitary force was deployed to avoid any untoward incident during the mourning procession. Earlier, presiding over a security meeting, the home minister reviewed the preparations for Rabiul Awal.
Talking about security arrangements for the 12th Rabiul Awal, he said the law enforcement agencies will ensure fool proof security to avoid any untoward incident. ”The law enforcement agencies have chalked out a plan to cope up with any emergency situation during Rabiul Awal,” he added.
