DASKA: Former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has vowed to make all-out efforts to take the case of Daska lawyers’ killing to its logical end, saying the incident has triggered a movement of the lawyers.

Condemning the killing of the two senior Daska lawyers by police, he criticised the Punjab rulers and the inspector general of police (IGP) for appointing the Daska City SHO, suspected to be behind the killings, despite his bad reputation, criminal record and involvement in 16 henious cases.

He was addressing a lawyers meeting at the Daska Bar Association here on Wednesday.

Flays Punjab govt, IGP for appointing tainted SHO; stresses police depoliticisation

Mr Chaudhry said the killings had made him very sad as the slain lawyers were the companions of his long march during the Musharraf regime.

He said instead of expressing solidarity with the grieving families of the slain lawyers, the rulers were still seeking the inquiry report from their departments. He asked the government to announce a financial compensation for the slain lawyers’ families.

The former CJP said the silence of the rulers over the Daska killings was enticing the people to take the law into their hands for self-defence.

He stressed the need for depoliticisation of police for ensuring the rule of law and protection of the people to avert Daska-like tragedy in the future. He deplored that the rulers had politicised police for their personal gains, saying the depoliticisation of police was must to ensure the rule of law and to promote true democracy.

“Our courts are closed and the lawyers and masses were concerned. They are protesting for their basic democratic rights, including protection,” he added.

Mr Chaudhry paid tributes to the slain lawyers, Rana Khalid Abbas and Irfan Chohan, for their services for restoration of judiciary and dispensing justice to the needy. Later, he visited their families in their villages, condoled with them and prayed for the departed souls.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2015

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