KARACHI: While legal proceedings remained suspended in courts across the city on Wednesday for a second consecutive day in protest against the kidnapping of the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, the legal fraternity gave the warning that it would take to the streets if advocate Awais Ali Shah was not recovered within a week.

The chief justice’s son was kidnapped by four men wearing balaclavas in broad daylight on Monday in front of a famous departmental store in Clifton.

The Sindh Bar Council, the prime body of lawyers with advocate general as ex-officio chairman, described the incident as an attack on the country and its judiciary and announced that it would continue the boycott of court proceedings on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference, SBC executive members advocates Salahuddin Gandapur and Mansoor Leghari, said that the kidnapping of the SHC chief justice’s son had exposed the tall claims of law enforcement agencies regarding security situation in the city.

They said that the kidnapping was aimed at pressurising the courts, but the lawyers were determined to resist and foil any such move.

Advocates Gandapur and Leghari said that Awais Shah was not only the son of the chief justice, but he was also a practicing lawyer and member of the bar council.

The SBC leaders also recalled that several lawyers were kidnapped and many others were killed since May 12 carnage, but the authorities had failed to take effective steps for security of lawyers.

They warned that the sons of prime minister, the governor and the chief justice of the Supreme Court could also be kidnapped in future if concrete steps were not taken at this stage in view of the present situation.

The SBC leaders asked the provincial government and law enforcement agencies to immediately recover the abducted son of the SHC chief justice.

Courts wear deserted look

The courts across the city wore a deserted look for the second consecutive day in protest against the kidnapping of Advocate Awais Shah.

All the cases fixed for hearing on Wednesday before the benches of the Sindh High Court were adjourned as lawyers stayed away from legal proceedings.

The next dates of the cases would be later announced by the court’s office.

The lawyers stayed away from the legal proceedings at the City Courts, District Malir Courts, antiterrorism courts, accountability courts and other special courts, including banking courts.

Stamp vendors and three canteens on the premises of the City Courts also remained closed for the second consecutive day.

The jail authorities also did not send undertrial prisoners to courts in view of the lawyers’ protest.

However, police produced suspects before different judges for obtaining their remand in their respective chambers.

Gen Bilal visits CJ Shah

Director General of Pakistan Rangers Maj-Gen Bilal Akbar met Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah in his chamber.

Sources said that the chief of the paramilitary troops informed the chief justice of efforts being made to track down his kidnapped son.

They said that CJ Shah was also informed of the actions and raids conducted so far in this connection. The sources said that Gen Akbar assured the chief justice of early recovery of his son.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2016