ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the supervisory body of lawyers, on Friday asked lawyers all over the country to observe a countrywide strike on Monday (Aug 22) in protest against the Aug 8 Quetta carnage.

In response to the PBC’s call, lawyers in Islamabad will hold a demonstration before Parliament House from 11am to 1pm. They will demand the arrest of those responsible for the attack along with immediate payment of monetary support to families of the deceased and injured.

The bar council took this decision after the Aug 13 resolution was passed by the council in its 215th meeting held at the Supreme Court.

Calls for arrest of elements behind the Quetta blast

According to details, PBC’s Vice Chairmen Dr Farogh Naseem, chairmen of the executive committees, presidents of the provincial bar councils, high court and district bar associations and others will lead the demonstration.

The Aug 13 resolution regretted apathy on the part of the federal and Balochistan government in handling the aftermath of the Quetta massacre.

It noted that no positive efforts were made by the government or agencies to identify the culprits behind the Quetta blast or initiate proceedings to determine motives for the attack or identification and apprehension of the culprits.

The resolution also asked for immediate steps to alleviate poverty in Balochistan to help the province to develop economically and socially.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2016