Pakistan: Lawyers threatened by extremist attacks

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has expressed concern about the threat posed by extremists to Pakistan’s legal community following the bombing of the Civil Hospital in Quetta on 8 August, which left 70 people dead.

On 8 August, the government-administered Civil Hospital in Quetta, Balochistan, was targeted by a suicide bomber, leaving at least 70 people dead, mostly lawyers who had gathered there to mourn the death of the president of the Balochistan Bar Association (BBA), Bilal Anwar Kasi. He had been assassinated on his way to court earlier the same day.

Those killed in the blast included the former president of the BBA, Baaz Muhammad Khan Kakar, the former General Secretary of the BBA, Bashir Zehri, and Daud Kasi, the Chairman of the BBA Executive Committee. Several others killed in the blast were nominees for senior positions in the upcoming BBA elections on 13 August. The militant group, Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, which is a split from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have admitted responsibility for the attack. The blast also claimed the lives of two journalists and several civilians.

Mr Kasi had condemned the recent killings of lawyers in Quetta and had called for a boycott of the court proceedings. Lawyers in Balochistan have been the target of violent extremism in the past decade. A number of female and constitutional lawyers have been gunned down on account of their work.

After a country visit in 2012, the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, noted that members of the legal profession were at serious risk of threats, attacks and killings by militant groups. Stating that the State had not provided any protection to secure their lives and safety, she had emphasised that the protection of lawyers is of utmost importance. CSW has observed that the level of threats against and attacks on lawyers has persisted with impunity in recent years and puts the role of lawyers in restoring the rule of law in Pakistan at risk.

I.A. Rehman, the Secretary General of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said, “The State has completely failed to deal with the campaign on terrorism by accusing foreign involvement in these attacks. Islamists extremist groups are even more coordinated and have demonstrated their organised power to kill high profile targets. There is more trouble for Pakistan now as lawyers are being targeted thus, totally undermining our legal system. The government must go beyond their mere promises to tighten security and see to it that Islamists extremism is dealt with.”

CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who were killed. We are deeply concerned by the threats against lawyers in Pakistan, who are advocates for justice and the protection of the rights of their fellow citizensincluding the right to religious freedom. These extremist groups not only imperil the lives of innocent lawyers who are simply doing their job, but also Pakistan’s legal system. We urge the government of Pakistan to deal decisively with Islamic extremism threat and to end the climate of fear which threatens Pakistan’s legal and social fabric.”