KARACHI, June 12: The investigation team will begin work on Wednesday on the lawyers’ FIR registered at the City Courts police station against leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and officials of the Sindh government.

Karachi Bar Association General Secretary Naeem Qureshi said that SSP of Zone-III Mohammad Arif Hanif would visit the area mentioned in the FIR and prepare its sketch. He said the investigation team would be supervised by DIG of Zone-III Zubair Mehmood, and the lawyers would fully cooperate with the team in recording their statements.

The DIG, when contacted, said that before investigation he could not comment on the case, saying that the details about the case would be with SSP Mohammad Arif Hanif. Despite efforts, the SSP could not be reached for his comments.

Advocate Hanif Kashmir, counsel for the complainant, when contacted, said that about 50 affidavits had already been submitted by lawyers affected during the May 12 mayhem. He said the same affidavits had been submitted to the Sindh High Court as evidence in the suo motu action taken by the court.

He said many lawyers who had not yet submitted their affidavits would also get their statements recorded, adding that the police intentionally delayed the investigation as many of the lawyers were out of town to enjoy the court vacation till July 2.

The City Courts police, in compliance with an order of Additional District and Sessions Jude, South, Mohammad Azeem, had registered the FIR (53/07) against the Sindh government and leaders of the MQM on May 19.

The case was registered under Section 147,148,149,324,427,365/511 and 506-B of PPC on the complaint of Karachi Bar Association General Secretary Naeem Qureshi.

It was mentioned in the petition that on May 12 KBA members were on their way to the Sindh High Court to attend the Supreme Court’s golden jubilee celebrations, which were also to be attended by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

The petitioner submitted that as the lawyers came out of the City Courts in a big procession, gunmen opened indiscriminate fire from all sides, forcing the lawyers to disperse in two groups and run for safety.

In the meanwhile, it said, MQM workers appeared in vehicles with party flags and started shooting at the lawyers and pelted them with stones, causing injuries to many lawyers, including women, who were not allowed to take shelter in the nearby buildings.

The complainant said the lawyers were threatened with immolation. The furniture placed in the women lawyers’ common room was also set ablaze. Members of the Sindh Bar Council were held hostage at gunpoint and some members of the Karachi Bar Association were held hostage in the KBA building.

It was further stated that the lawyers repeatedly contacted the Sindh governor and police high-ups till 5pm on May 12 but no action was taken against the suspected terrorists. Pakistan Bar Council member Mohammad Yasin Azad and KBA member Fahim Zia said they had already informed the police about the attack but police refused to take any action.