Lawyers across Balochistan on Monday boycotted courts to mourn the August 8, 2016 carnage which claimed more than 70 lives, including 56 members of the legal fraternity in Quetta.

No lawyer appeared in court and black flags were hoisted outside court buildings to mourn those who passed away in the deadly suicide bombing at Civil Hospital Quetta last year.

The Balochistan High Court Bar Association (BHCBA) and the Balochistan Bar Association (BBA) had called for the boycott as a means of commemorating the lawyers slain in the bombing. "The boycott of courts will be observed on August 8 and 9 as well," Shah Muhammad Jatoi, the BHCBA president told Dawn.com.

Quran khwani was also held for DawnNews cameraman Mehmood Khan and Aaj News cameraman Shehzad Khan at the Quetta Press Club by journalists. The two cameramen were killed in the line of duty in the August 8 attack.

Lawyers bodies and family members of the slain lawyers also displayed banners and photos of their fallen colleagues outside the Quetta High Court, various sessions courts and on important landmarks of the city.

Besides Quetta, the court boycott was also observed in Sibi, Khuzdar, Pishin, Chaman and other parts of Balochistan.

"We will never forget our heroes", Inayat Kasi, brother of Dawood Kasi, told Dawn.com. Dawood was killed in the Quetta suicide bombing.

Awami National Party workers also took out a rally in Muslim Bagh, district Killa Saifullah, in the memory of slain lawyers. The party leaders paid rich tributes to the fallen.

The ANP has also announced a shutter-down strike on August 8 in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan to mourn the incident. Balochistan National Party (Mengal), Hazara Democratic Party, JUI and other political parties have also backed the strike call.

Security has been placed on high alert in Quetta following the scheduled arrival of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and other judges of thee apex court, who will participate in a condolence meeting being held in the city tomorrow.