PESHAWAR: Lawyers called upon the government here on Thursday to enact the proposed law for their protection law within two weeks failing which they would decide future course of action.

A joint general body meeting of Peshawar High Court Bar Association, Peshawar Bar Association and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council was held here at Safeerullah Khan Hall on the premises of high court to condemn the murder of senior lawyer Abdul Latif Afridi in the barroom on January 16 and termed it an irreparable loss for the community.

Through a unanimously adopted resolution, the meeting called upon the government to enact the proposed lawyers’ protection law to ensure safety to members of the legal fraternity and curb growing incidents of violence against them.

The agenda of the meeting was security of lawyers, promulgation of proposed Lawyers Protection Act and security of the barrooms. The meeting also demanded of the government and PHC to install modern security equipment including CCTV cameras and walk-through scanners on all entry points of high court premises.

Meeting condemns killing of senior lawyer Latif Afridi

The meeting decided that KP Bar Council would initiate proceedings against alleged facilitators in the murder of late Abdul Latif Afridi. The participants termed the incident a security lapse and failure of security agencies. They demanded foolproof security for all barrooms across the province.

The meeting decided to install CCTV cameras in barrooms. It also decided that the consultation rooms should be used only for consultation purposes for not more than one hour. The meeting also condemned violating the sanctity of the barroom on January 16 by the alleged killer.

The participants appreciated the complainant in the FIR registered regarding the murder of Mr Afridi, Advocate Sangeen Khan, stating that it was a bold step taken by him to become complainant in the case.

The meeting also discussed the issue of enmities between lawyers with each other as well as with general public and decided to constitute a committee to handle such private and personal issues. The meeting unanimously condemned the recent desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden.

The meeting was addressed by PHCBA president Rahmanullah Khan, general secretary Farooq Afridi and other members. They said that lawyers protection law was enacted in Punjab but it was not enacted by the federal or the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

The speakers regretted that there were increasing incidents of violence against lawyers and government failed to provide protection to them. They said that Mr Afrid was an asset for the legal fraternity, who had always strived for rule of law, independence of the judiciary, democratic values and supremacy of the constitution.

They also asked members to fully cooperate with the security personnel deputed on premises of PHC and judicial complex. The meeting also offered fateha for the departed soul of Mr Afridi.

Meanwhile, the lawyers observed boycott of court proceedings on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2023