THATTA: Lawyers conti­nued to boycott proceedings at all courts in the district on the second consecutive day on Wednesday in protest against ‘criminal trespass’ into official residence of district and sessions judge by the personnel of Karachi police three days ago.

The judge Jawed Ahmed Baloch complained in a letter (No EII/1826 of 2022) to the registrar of Sindh High Court, Karachi, on March 28 that a heavy contingent of Karachi police headed by SHO of Memon Goth police station, Atiqur Rahman, comprising around 50 policemen including some lady constables, conducted raid on his official residence in Thatta late on Sunday night (March 27).

He said that upon his questioning the officers, who led the raiding party, divulged that the raid was being conducted on verbal instructions of Pir Mohammad Shah, DIG of Hyderabad region, and Dr Farrukh Raza Malik, SSP (investigation) of Karachi South and other members of JIT.

The motive behind the raid, he said, was to arrest his son, Zeeshan Jawed, in connection with a family issue between one Dr Mehreen Baloch, who had a dispute with his (the judge’s) brother Asif Ahmed Baloch over custody of child.

He said that his son, Zeeshan, had nothing to do with the dispute and he was not wanted by law in any crime.

He being head of district judiciary and his family had been harassed by police, who raided his official residence without any authority and permission from Chief Justice of Sindh High court, he said.

The police action amounted to undermining the institute of judiciary itself and giving license to police to raid residence of any judicial officer in future, he said.

The judge, therefore, called for strict action against the delinquent police officials and protection against continuous humiliation and disgrace at the hands of police concerned and their high-ups.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2022