Balochistan: Lawyers Protest Against Abduction of Judges and Advocates

After the abductions of four of their colleagues, lawyers and judges across Balochistan staged protest rallies to demand better protection by the government.
 

Below is an article published by The Daily Times:

Lawyers staged protest rallies across Balochistan on Tuesday [1 March 2011] condemning the abductions of four lawyers and two judges, who have not been recovered so far by law enforcement agencies.

The lawyers boycotted court proceedings after 11am to record their protest against the deteriorating law and order situation in the province. They vowed to continue their strike until the recovery of their missing colleagues.

District and sessions judge Jan Muhammad Gauhar Yasinzai, civil judge Muhammad Ali Kakar, four lawyers Saleem Akhtar, Tahir Hussain, Agha Zahir Shah and Munir Ahmed and a driver Peer Shah were kidnapped a few days back.

In Quetta, protesting lawyers gathered at Mezan Chowk and chanted slogans against the government for its failure to protect life and property of the citizens. The protest rally, led by Baz Muhammad Kakar and Ali Ahmed Kurd, was taken out from the sessions court. The lawyers alleged that the government was least concerned about the security of the people.

Other areas of Balochistan where lawyers recorded their resentment included Mastung, Kalat, Sibi, Lasbela, Chagai, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur, Kohlu, Jhal Magsi, Harani, Loralai, Pishin and Musa Khail.

Near Dera Allah Yar in Jaffarabad district, lawyers blocked national highway, disrupting traffic between Sindh and Balochistan for several hours.

“We (lawyers) will extend our protest across the country by involving political parties and representatives of civil society for evolving a joint strategy to highlight the issue of Balochistan,” Balochistan High Court Bar Association President, Baz Kakar, told Daily Times.

He complained that media was not taking up the issue of Balochistan where people from every walk of life were falling victims to targeted killings and abductions.

It may be mentioned here that Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani had, while taking serious notice of the abduction of Yasinzai and Ali Kakar from Naseerabad district, ordered the authorities concerned to take steps for their immediate recovery, but no progress could be made and the whereabouts of the judges still remain unknown.

http://www.unpo.org/article/12330