Members of the legal fraternity observed a complete strike on Thursday at the city courts and Malir district courts in solidarity with Hyderabad lawyers demanding transfer of the city's SSP.
The Karachi Bar Association and Malir Bar Association had given a call for a strike, urging their members to stay away from courts to record their protest against "continued neglect of the demands of the legal fraternity in Hyderabad regarding the immediate transfer of SSP Hyderabad".
The city courts presented a deserted look throughout the day as legal work remained suspended and under-trial prisoners could not be produced in courts. In its statement on Wednesday, the KBA strongly condemned the government's inaction to transfer the Hyderabad SSP.
"We demand that the Inspector General of Sindh Police immediately accept the legitimate demand of the Hyderabad Bar Association and ensure the prompt transfer of SSP Hyderabad," read the statement.
"This step is necessary to maintain strong relations between the legal fraternity and law enforcement institutions, ensuring the rule of law and justice prevail." Tensions between lawyers and Hyderabad police escalated after a case was lodged against a lawyer over a fancy number plate. Hyderabad lawyers staged a sit-in on the National Highway, demanding removal of SSP Farrukh Lanjar. The lawyers ended their sit-in after the SSP went on leave.
However, the Hyderabad Bar Association again called for a strike after Lanjar resumed his duty after leave. Earlier, Faisal Mughal, the candidate for president in the Hyderabad district bar election on February 15, told The News that DIG Tariq Dharejo had ended the lawyers’ sit-in at the office of the SSP on February 4 by talking about the transfer of the SSP.
He said DIG Dharejo had said he would honour the lawyers at the High Court Bar at 12 o’clock and announce the acceptance of their demands, but this was not done, after which a strict plan of action was announced.