LAHORE: The legal fraternity condemned on Monday the murder of the former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Abdul Latif Afridi, in Peshawar.

The Punjab Bar Council announced a complete boycott of the courts in the province on Tuesday.

It said the incidents involving murders of lawyers were rampant due to poor law and the situation in the country.

It demanded that the federal government ensure foolproof security for the bar rooms and the court premises across the country.

In a statement, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Lahore High Court Bar Association, Abid Hassan Minto, expressed his deep sorrow at the shocking murder of Mr Afridi.

He also expressed concern over the security situation in the country where even a leading lawyer was not safe within the four walls of a bar room located in a high court.

He called for an urgent inquiry into the matter at the highest level in order to dig up the motives behind this heinous murder of one of the most vocal democratic and human rights voices in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2023