KARACHI, Sept 14: A senior member of the Karachi Bar Association, who was attacked by unknown gunmen near his Landhi residence late Thursday night, is in a precarious condition and fighting for his life. According to the police and other sources, lawyer Ateeq Ahmed Qadri was called out of his 37-A area, Landhi-4 home by strangers pretending to be prospective clients desirous of discussing some legal points.
“When the victim came outside, the two men opened fire on him with pistols and then walked away,” said a resident of the area who requested anonymity.
The 49-year-old lawyer was seriously injured by the six bullets received on the head, face, chest and thigh. He was initially taken to an area hospital for first aid but was then moved to the Aga Khan University Hospital where doctors termed his condition critical.
Landhi SHO Aziz Memon told Dawn that no case had been registered since investigations were at their initial stages.
“We are not in a position to ascertain the motive behind the attack,” he said, “but we are coordinating with the victim’s family members and expect to register a case with their consent.”
According to one of Mr Qadri’s close associates, the victim was counsel for Afaq Ahmed, chairman of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi, in some of the cases pending before different lower courts.
With a professional standing of about 25 years, Mr Qadri enjoys a good name in the Landhi area where he is known as an active social worker.
The shooting drew a serious reaction from the legal community, which earlier this week endured the daylight killing of a colleague who was an active anti-government campaigner against the presidential reference and the May 12 incidents.
Leading lawyers have spoken strongly against such recent attacks but Thursday’s shooting is being viewed as cause for grave concern.
“This situation cannot be allowed to continue,” said Naeem Qureshi, president of the Karachi Bar Council. “Lawyers’ lives are under threat across the city and we have to decide what is to be done.” He pointed out that lawyers have worked for every political party during its difficult days. “It was our community that raised its voice when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was in hot water and fake cases were being registered against its workers,” he observed. “How can someone victimise lawyers for pleading the cases of their opponents? The situation is very dangerous indeed. It must be controlled now, before it’s too late.”
