Lawyers demand military operation against terrorists in Punjab

LAHORE: The legal fraternity of the province Tuesday demanded the government to carry out a military operation in Punjab, similar to Karachi, in a bid to eliminate terrorism from the country, saying that the government has failed to provide security to its citizens. 

The lawyers expressed these views in a rally showing solidarity with the martyrs of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park bomb blast in Lahore which claimed lives of 72 people and injuring over 300. The rally started from Aiwan-e-Adl under the aegis of Lahore Bar Association and reached GPO Chowk, where the lawyers of other bars joined them and then the rally moved to the Punjab Assembly. 

The representatives of Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association, Punjab Bar Council, Lahore High Court Bar Association, Lahore Bar Association, Tax Bar Association, Sheikhupura Bar Association, Gujranwala Bar Association, Okara, Ferozwala and other bar associations participated in the rally. Supreme Court Bar Association President Syed Ali Zafar while addressing the rally said people of Pakistan are united against such terrorist attacks. 

He said the cowardly attack on Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park is a proof that the government has failed in providing security to its citizens. Whenever such attacks are carried out, it is usual that we hear many speeches of the politicians and people wear black bands but after a few days, we forget. But this time the nation itself has decided that it will raise voice. He said the government knew that on the day of Easter a large number of families go to public parks therefore the government must have ensured high alert security but this was not done. 

He said we all know that there are areas in various parts of Punjab which support these terrorists who are enemies of the state but the government has not taken any action against them so far. Even the prime minister in his speech did not assure the nation that operation clean-up will also be carried out in Punjab. 

Former president of SCBA Asma Jahangir in her address said it’s a dilemma that the rulers and their children are sitting in bunkers surrounded by high security but the children of common people are dying in parks. Government should immediately take solid measures to eradicate terrorism from the country instead of making tall claims. 

Prominent lawyer and human rights activist Abid Hasan Manto said the government should timely take steps and there should be no delay in devising a policy to cope with terrorism to avoid such untoward incidents in future. 

Former PPP senator Jahangir Badr also addressed the rally saying that legal fraternity is showing solidarity with the blast victims.  Later, it was announced that a Joint Action Committee (consisting of members from SCBA, LHCBA, LDBA and others bars of the country) will be constituted under the leadership of SCBA chief which will decide what course of action will be adopted against the failure of the government in providing security to the people.