Nine years on, lawyers await arrest of Tahir Plaza arsonists

Lawyers’ associations observe day of mourning; urge

government to ensure attackers are brought to justice

Culprits of the 2008 Tahir Plaza arson attack were again demanded to be brought to book as the city’s lawyer fraternity observed a day of mourning on the incident’s 9th anniversary, on Monday.

Around 11 people, including two lawyers lost their lives when arsonists set the building, located near the city courts, on fire on April 9, 2008. 

The Sindh Bar Council (SBC), Sindh High Court (SHC), Karachi and Malir Bar Associations, on the occasion, remembered services and sacrifices rendered by lawyers during the movement to restore the judiciary.

The lawyers attended court proceedings sporting black arm-bands as a mark of grief and protest over the authorities’ failure to arrest the criminals. 

Addressing a general body meeting Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Rasheed A Razvi said both the May 12, 2007 and April 9, 2008 incidents were a mark of disgrace for law enforcement agencies who failed to protect the lives of the citizens, particularly lawyers.

He suggested the bar associations file a petition to reopen the May 12 carnage case as such miscarriages of justice would only encourage the perpetrators and pave way for more such incidents.

All these incidents of violence against the legal fraternity were instigated under the patronage of the then ‘establishment’, Razvi said while calling for a comprehensive inquiry into the incidents. Former President SCBA, Yaseen Azad, SBC member Haider Imam Rizvi, SHCBA secretary Kashif Paracha and others also spoke on the occasion.

SHCBA resolution

The SHCBA in its resolution also paid rich tribute to the martyred advocates for their struggle to implement the rule of law and independence of the judiciary.

The lawyers’ association termed the May 12 and Tahir Plaza incident the most brutal acts of violence carried out by goons of a political party.

Karachi, Malir bar associations

At a general body meeting of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA), officer bearers including KBA President Naim Qureshi prayed for the fellow lawyers who lost their lives and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families.

Qureshi urged the government to do all it could to arrest the criminals who carried out the attack.

He expressed concern over the failure to arrest attackers despite a lapse of nine years.

The KBA president also criticised the government for not providing security to judges and lawyers, adding, that they were still working in uncertain conditions.

Lawyers Altaf Abbasi and Sheharyar Sheri were burnt to death along with six people, including two women, when arsonists set fire to their chambers.

Five of Abbasi’s clients were also among those burnt when in his chamber of set on fire.

The then-government had constituted a judicial tribunal, headed by SHC judge Nadeem Azhar Siddiqui, but it failed to identify the culprits.

The tribunal observed that the incident may have taken place in reaction to the manhandling of the then-federal law minister, Dr Sher Afghan Niazi, by lawyers in Lahore.

More than 60 vehicles were also set on fire after the scuffle that broke out between groups of Karachi bar lawyers and pro-President Pervez Musharaf lawyers over the thrashing of Dr Niazi.