Lawyer killed during jirga in Lower Dir

TIMERGARA: A lawyer was shot dead during a jirga at a mosque to resolve a dispute between two rival parties at Jabagai village in the jurisdiction of Khall Police Station late Friday night, police sources said.

They said Syed Azam Shah Advocate, 45, a leader of the People’s Lawyers Forum and son of senior lawyer Haroon Khan, was injured when a man identified as Nisar, son of Abdul Rehman, allegedly opened fire on him.

He was rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital Timergara but he succumbed to injuries.

Police registered a case under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code and started further investigation.

According to the FIR lodged by the brother of the slain lawyer, Syed Bilal Hussain, the incident occurred inside a mosque during a jirga which was held to sort out a dispute.

He alleged that the suspect fired at his brother after an exchange of harsh words.

On Saturday, the District Bar Association Timergara boycotted court proceedings in protest against the killing of the lawyer.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council condemned the killing, terming it an attack on the legal fraternity.

The council announced a province-wide strike to protest the incident. The deceased was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard at Rani. A number of lawyers, political and social figures and locals attended the funeral.