Lawyers observe countrywide strike against Islamabad court attack
Lawyers demanded that the government should take immediate action against the terrorists.
(Web Desk) - Lawyers across the country are observing strike on the call of Pakistan Bar Council and boycotted the court proceedings to protest against terrorist attack on a local court in Islamabad, which claimed lives of 11 people including a senior judge and injured 30 others, Dunya News reported on Tuesday.
The legal fraternity strongly condemned the incident and demanded arrest of the accused involved in the attack.
Lawyers asked both the federal and provincial governments to ensure foolproof security at all courts and judicial complexes so the legal fraternity can work in a secure environment and help deliver justice to the public.
In Punjab‚ the lawyers held protests in different cities including Lahore against the incident. They called for enhancing security of courts to avoid such attacks in future.
In Balochistan‚ fateha was offered for the victims of Islamabad incident at a condolence reference held in provincial high court in Quetta. Chief Justice Qazi Isa described the incident as a cowardly act.
Office bearers of Balochistan Bar Association condemned the Islamabad terror attack and boycotted courts.
At least six gunmen in their mid-20s, two of whom were wearing bomb vests, launched the attack early on Monday in Islamabad’s legal district – a warren of cramped district courts and offices housing lawyers, judges and clerks.
Witnesses said the attackers, dressed in shalwar qameez, traditional dress, fired indiscriminately and threw grenades before escaping into the city. The two suicide bombers appeared to target specific offices.
Among the dead was Rafaqat Ahmed Awan – a district judge who recently rejected an appeal to charge former military dictator Pervez Musharraf with the killing of religious leader Ghazi Abdul Rasheed during an operation in 2007 to seize control of the Lal Masjid.
A TTP splinter group called Ahrar-ul-Hind claimed responsibility for the attack.
