PESHAWAR, Dec 1: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan on Friday directed the Pakistan Bar Council to provide a lawyer to a man charged with killing a social activist and lawyer at the sessions court in Dera Ismail Khan.

The chief justice initiated suo motu action after he received a communication from the Dera Ismail Khan district and sessions judge. The sessions judge had informed the chief justice that the case of the accused, Amanullah Khan, had been pending for about a year but no lawyer in the province was willing to appear on his behalf.

The chief justice asked the Pakistan Bar Council to arrange a lawyer even if it had to do so from another province.

The accused claimed that the deceased, Naseema, was his wife. His claim had been refuted by the deceased during her life time and had claimed that he was a blackmailer who had been trying to grab her properties.

The accused was allegedly arrested red handed by some court officials after the occurrence. The Dera Bar Association had condemned her death and also decided that none of its member would represent the accused before any of the courts.

The deceased lawyer was a member of the Aurat Foundation’s Citizens Action Committee and she was known for creating rights awareness among the disadvantaged groups, especially women.

She had filed cases in the local courts against the accused charging him of forgery and fraud. She had also challenged a nikkahnama which the accused had produced in support of his claim that she was his wife.