KARACHI: The legal fraternity on Monday vehemently condemned the federal and provincial governments for failing to provide adequate security to judges, lawyers and the people and demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Speaking at a press conference at their office on the premises of the Sindh High Court, Sindh Bar Council’s Vice Chairman Qurban Ali Malano and chairman of the SBC’s executive committee Abdul Wahab Baloch demanded that the federal government pay due attention to the worsening security situation across the country.

The SBC office-bearers asked both the provincial and federal governments to take immediate steps to improve the law and order situation in the province and the country.

They said that the interior minister remained a silent spectator and did not bother to visit the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, where over 88 devotees were killed and many others wounded in a suicide bombing on Feb 16.

The leaders of the legal fraternity said that the interior minister did not even bother to visit the wounded victims or the families of slain devotees to console them.

They demanded the immediate removal of the interior minister as he had failed to perform his duty to ensure security to the life and property of the people.

The SBC leaders also demanded the government to call a meeting of representatives from all political parties, religious outfits and bar associations to chalk-out a strategy to deal with the worsening security situation.

They also criticised the provincial government for not announcing adequate compensation to the victims of the blast at the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine and demanded that the government immediately pay Rs10 million each to the families of those who lost their lives in the blast and Rs5m to each wounded victim.

The SBC office-bearers also demanded the provincial government to take effective steps to improve the security situation in the province.

They also called upon the government to invite representatives from the SBC in every meeting of the apex committee on law and order in the province.

Their other demands included implementation of the National Action Plan in letter and spirit and action against over four million illegal immigrants.

The SBC leaders also condemned the terrorist attacks in Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta in which scores of innocent people were killed and many others wounded.

They also asked the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Sindh High Court CJ to take suo motu notice on the situation to take appropriate action against those responsible for terrorism.

Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court Bar Association also held a general body meeting to condemn the government for its failure in providing adequate security to lawyers.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2017