ISLAMABAD: As the legal fraternity observed a ‘black day’ and boycotted court proceedings across the country on Tuesday in protest against the Quetta carnage, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani called for taking tough measures to completely eliminate the scourge of terrorism. Otherwise, he said, the nation would continue to mourn deaths of many innocent people every other day.

Lawyers hoisted black flags on bar buildings and wore black armbands to mark the day.

“Time has come when the state has to take some hard decisions that may be very difficult, otherwise it will be just like a firefighting exercise,” Mr Rabbani said during his visit to the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) office, along with a delegation of senators, to express sympathy, sorrow and solidarity with the legal community over the death of several advocates who lost their lives in Monday’s suicide attack in Quetta. Senators Mushahidullah Khan, Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Sitara Ayaz and Robina Khalid were among the members of the delegation.

Earlier, SCBA members offered funeral prayers in absentia for the martyrs of the Quetta blast on the Supreme Court premises, which was also attended by SCBA president Barrister Ali Zafar, Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf and former Senate chairman Nayyar Bokhari.

Lawyers observe black day, boycott court proceedings

When asked who had faulted in pre-empting the Quetta carnage, Mr Rabbani said it was not the time to indulge in a blame game, but added that indiscriminate measures were the need of the hour as “we mourned the deaths in Quetta yesterday and, God forbid, we will be grieving tomorrow for the loss of so many lives in Karachi or Lahore”.

He said terrorists were following a particular pattern which should be in the minds of the quarters concerned to pre-empt Quetta-like attacks.

Mr Rabbani recalled that the Senate had grudgingly voted in favour of the 21st constitution amendment under which military courts were set up, but as the sunset clause was fast approaching after which these courts would cease to exist, the upper house was considering different options to improve the judicial system and sought the assistance of bar associations and enacted eight different laws one of which was about the witness protection programme.

The laws passed by the Senate were now pending approval of the National Assembly, he said, adding that for strengthening institutions, an intra-institutional dialogue between parliament and the Supreme Court was necessary because both could work jointly for strengthening institutions.

SCBA chief Barrister Zafar said the legal fraternity had supported the military courts knowing that fundamental and human rights would have to give way, but this was not a long-term solution. He stressed the need for strengthening the court system, witness protection programme and investigations as well as prosecution.

He welcomed the army chief’s order for launching a combing operation, but suggested that it should be carried out across the country and should not be similar to the previous operations which had spared southern Punjab.

The SCBA president requested the Senate chairman and PML-N Senator Mushahidullah to convey the message of the lawyers’ community to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for provision of adequate security to soft targets like courts and hospitals.

He said the Quetta attack had further strengthened “our resolve to remain united and strong to face this menace”.

Barrister Zafar said the legal fraternity looked towards the Senate more than any other institution in the country because “we see the upper house as a beacon of light”.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2016