Karachi Lawyers News

  Three lawyers were killed when unidentified armed men opened fire on their car near then Aram Bagh area of Karachi. A fourth lawyers is in critical condition and is undergoing surgery at the Civil Hospital.  The police have described the act as target killing and say the attackers were riding motorcycles and chased the lawyers from the city court.  Lawyers have announced a nationwide strike in protest of the killings. According to the MLO of the civil hospital, all three of them were shot at point-blank range.  Eyewitness accounts state that the police failed to act and only opened aerial firing after the attack had already taken place.  The police were also late in cordoning off the crime scene.  Home Minister Sindh Mansoor Wasan has ordered the suspension of SHO Aram Bagh, while Interior Minister Rehman Malik has summoned a report from IG Sindh.  (The News)

Co-ordination Committee of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has strongly condemned the murder of noted lawyer Mumtaz Bukhari Advocate and termed the dreadful incident as an attempt to destroy peace of the city. The committee said that the enemies of peace were doggedly after the peace of the city and the murder of Mumtaz Bukhari Advocate is also a vicious attempt to create sectarian tension in the city. The Co-ordination Committee extended its condolences to the bereaved family members of Mumtaz Bukhari Advocate and expressed sympathy and solidarity with the millat-e-jafriah. The committee demanded of the government to take notice of the killing of Mumtaz Bukhari Advocate and said that the killers should be arrested immediately. The committee also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul. The committee also appealed to millat-e-jafriah to defeat the wicked conspiracy to create disturbance in the city by showing patience and forbearance.

President of Supreme Court Bar Association Ms Asma Jahangir says on call of Pakistan Bar Council legal fraternity will observe countrywide black day and complete strike on May 23, 2011 to protest against growing targeted killings of members of legal fraternity. Speaking at Meet the Press program at Karachi Press Club, she said all bar associations will observe black day, black flags hoisted, lawyers completely boycott courts proceedings and stage protest demonstrations. General body meetings will be held to chalk out future course of action. She stated targeted killings of lawyers and citizens by criminals or law enforcers were on rise in all provinces. “The mechanism to protect human rights exists no where in country. People are begging for justice.” The incidents of lawyers kidnapping of lawyers has become routine and no action is being taken, rarely culprits are arrested, but they also go scot-free due to state machinery’s inefficiency, she stated. She said growing VVIP security