SWABI: Lawyers on Wednesday boycotted the court proceedings and demanded the transfer of the district police officer and the district sessions judge within a week over the murder of a woman on the premises of the Swabi Judicial Complex, Shahmansoor, five days ago.

The lawyers did not appear in any court, causing trouble to the litigants, who had to return home without their cases being heard. The call for the boycott was given by the district bar association.

The lawyers demanded provision of foolproof security in the judicial complex so the visitors could come to the courts without feeling any fear.

The lawyers said suspension of nine police officials by DPO Mohammad Shoaib Khan after the murder was meant to cover up the security lapse.

“It was because of lack of security that a person managed to enter the complex’s premises with a pistol and opened fire on his mother,” district bar president Daniyal Khan said while speaking at a meeting of the lawyers.

He said the lawyers would approach the Peshawar High Court chief justice and the provincial police chief, urging them to order transfer of the two officials.

In a separate development, residents of Yaqubi area of Razaar tehsil on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration against the prolonging electricity loadshedding.

The protesters gathered in the main bazaar and marched through roads chanting slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company and the provincial government.

Addressing the protesters, leaders of political parties questioned the claim of the government that the country had surplus electricity.

They said the government’s hollow claim about power generation was misleading the nation, as with increasing temperatures the power supply remained suspended from 10 to 12 hours.

The protesters dispersed after police officials assured them of taking up the matter with the authorities concerned.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2021