August 12, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 27, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Aug 11: Lawyers here on Saturday boycotted courts in protest against kidnapping and torturing of some of their colleagues. They were thought to be picked up by the law enforcing agencies on Friday for thrashing Naeem Bukhari, a senior lawyer and TV compere, on Thursday.

A protest meeting was called by District Bar Association (DBA) that was chaired by Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) President Sardar Asmatullah and Vie President DBA Abdul Hameed Malik.

The lawyers condemned the abduction of G M Shah and Raheel Akhtar, torturing of one of them and harassment of some other colleagues allegedly by secret agencies. They termed it state terrorism.

The speakers said that the lawyers could not be deterred through these intimidating tactics of the government. They said the legal community anticipated more hardened days ahead as their movement would focus on “go-Musharraf”. They said the writ of the government was waning and was being established through secret agencies.

Narrating his ordeal the abducted lawyer G M Shah said he was called to Swan camp by the security agencies pretending themselves as his clients. As he reached there they blindfolded him and bundled him in a car and took to an unknown place where they tortured him.

They wanted to teach him a lesson as he played active role during the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of Chief Justice.

When asked, he said the abductors did not mention a single word about Naeem Bukhari during the torture.

Later, they abandoned him near Swan Bus stop about 4 am on Saturday. While the other lawyer was released because he was not the wanted person. He said the police were reluctant to register a case.

Our Correspondent from Attock adds: The lawyers in Attock also observed complete strike in protest against the arrest of Advocate G.M. Shah by security agencies.

The lawyers boycotted the court proceedings throughout the day.

Talking to reporters, President District Bar Association Attock Rana Afsar Ali Khan and Advocate Sheikh Ahsanuddin said the government was worried about launching of second phase of lawyers campaign for the restoration of real democracy and end to military rule.