On Jan 26, 2010, lawyers stormed the Lahore Session Courts to show solidarity with a lawyer and former president of Lahore High Court Bar Association Mohammed Naeem.
Mohammed Naeem was arrested in the rape , torture and murder case of a 12-year-old Christian domestic worker.
More than 300 rampaging lawyers scuffled with journalists and policemen as they embraced Mohammed Naeem. The Police threatened to punish the lawyers, if they did not leave the court.
The judge was unable to proceed with the legal requirements of the case and had to adjourn the hearing. It has been reported that the judge announced a one-day police remand of the accused. Under the duress of media pressure and public outcry, the Judge later extended this period to a 3 day remand in custody.
The mob of lawyers chanted slogans in favour of accused lawyer and reviling the media.
It would seem that Mohammed Naeem' threat to the family of Shazia Bashir was true;
"The Lawyer community will never go against someone from their own fraternity."
This shameful act by the lawyers under the leadership of the incumbent President of the Lahore High Court Bar Association was staged to pressurize the judiciary and threaten the police and media to cease their normal and legal duties. This slap in the face comes after the doctor appointed by Shabaz Sharif in his post mortem examination, purported that no rape had taken place - despite the contradictory investigation by the doctor who initially treated Shazia. This whole event seems rather contrived and stinks of aristocratic conspiracy.
I am disgusted by this pernicious protest, the fact that people in a position of authority who are meant to serve the law and the people of Pakistan have sided with an alleged criminal before even considering the evidence is despicable. The very foundations of the legal and judicial system in Pakistan have been uprooted and the external image of the country can only be one of turmoil, anarchy, corruption and injustice.
I will be praying for the family of Shazia Bashir and any who chose to stand with and support the family through what is going to be a very difficult time for them. Have these lawyers no children of their own? How will they live with themselves, if evidence confirms the guilt of Mohammed Naeem. I personally believe those involved in the protest should be disbarred, named and shamed and should never be able to stand in a court again unless accused.
The unsavourytactics of these lawyers has today made a mockery of the Pakistani legal system. They have proved once and for all, that the empty gestures and overtures of the Pakistani Government in trying to bring; equality, peace and justice to Pakistan have been whimsical at best and woefully short of their target! The lawyers involved in this base action deserve widespread condemnation. Their actions have shamed a country and have caused devestation to a minority group in their lands and in particular to the family of Shazia Bashir. In their narrow perspective they believe Christians and other minority faith citizens of Pakistan, still hold a second class status, are obviously expendable and meant to be exploited.
Please come and join our Pan-Pakistan protest on the 3rd of April, whatever faith you hold. Don't let apathy or fear sway you from venting your frustations against an impotent government of Pakistan.
Mohammed Naeem was arrested in the rape , torture and murder case of a 12-year-old Christian domestic worker.
More than 300 rampaging lawyers scuffled with journalists and policemen as they embraced Mohammed Naeem. The Police threatened to punish the lawyers, if they did not leave the court.
The judge was unable to proceed with the legal requirements of the case and had to adjourn the hearing. It has been reported that the judge announced a one-day police remand of the accused. Under the duress of media pressure and public outcry, the Judge later extended this period to a 3 day remand in custody.
The mob of lawyers chanted slogans in favour of accused lawyer and reviling the media.
It would seem that Mohammed Naeem' threat to the family of Shazia Bashir was true;
"The Lawyer community will never go against someone from their own fraternity."
This shameful act by the lawyers under the leadership of the incumbent President of the Lahore High Court Bar Association was staged to pressurize the judiciary and threaten the police and media to cease their normal and legal duties. This slap in the face comes after the doctor appointed by Shabaz Sharif in his post mortem examination, purported that no rape had taken place - despite the contradictory investigation by the doctor who initially treated Shazia. This whole event seems rather contrived and stinks of aristocratic conspiracy.
I am disgusted by this pernicious protest, the fact that people in a position of authority who are meant to serve the law and the people of Pakistan have sided with an alleged criminal before even considering the evidence is despicable. The very foundations of the legal and judicial system in Pakistan have been uprooted and the external image of the country can only be one of turmoil, anarchy, corruption and injustice.
I will be praying for the family of Shazia Bashir and any who chose to stand with and support the family through what is going to be a very difficult time for them. Have these lawyers no children of their own? How will they live with themselves, if evidence confirms the guilt of Mohammed Naeem. I personally believe those involved in the protest should be disbarred, named and shamed and should never be able to stand in a court again unless accused.
The unsavourytactics of these lawyers has today made a mockery of the Pakistani legal system. They have proved once and for all, that the empty gestures and overtures of the Pakistani Government in trying to bring; equality, peace and justice to Pakistan have been whimsical at best and woefully short of their target! The lawyers involved in this base action deserve widespread condemnation. Their actions have shamed a country and have caused devestation to a minority group in their lands and in particular to the family of Shazia Bashir. In their narrow perspective they believe Christians and other minority faith citizens of Pakistan, still hold a second class status, are obviously expendable and meant to be exploited.
Please come and join our Pan-Pakistan protest on the 3rd of April, whatever faith you hold. Don't let apathy or fear sway you from venting your frustations against an impotent government of Pakistan.
Dear Wilson,
ReplyDelete1. Greetings to you from South Asian Connection www.southasianconnection.com
2. Thank you for writing this email to us.
3. We will pray for the case that is happening tomorrow.
With every blessing to you,
Susanna Kumari, Administrative Secretary
for Pastor Pritam Singh Sandhu
Founder, South Asian Connection