QUETTA/Islamabad - Unknown gunmen Friday opened fire on Environmental Tribunal Judge Sakhi Sultan in Shahbaz Town of the Balochistan capital, killing him instantly.
According to police, the incident occurred in Shahbaz Town when unidentified armed attackers entered the Environmental Protection Tribunal office and opened fire on Sakhi Sultan, leaving him seriously injured. He was rushed to hospital, but succumbed to his injuries before receiving any medical treatment.
After the killing of Sakhi Sultan, several members of the legal fraternity and the deceased judge’s family gathered at the hospital. Sakhi Sultan also served as a senior lawyer at the Supreme Court and high courts. He was former Supreme Court Bar Association vice president. In the past he remained associated with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Balochistan High Court Bar Association announced mourning and boycott of court proceedings for two days.
The Balochistan High Court Bar Association office bearers, including Bilal Anwar Kasi and Mir Zahoor Shahwani, strongly condemned the killing of Sakhi Sultan.
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) also condemned the killing of Sakhi Sultan and demanded of the government to take urgent measures for nabbing the culprits.
President SCBA Kamran Murtaza strongly condemned the assassination of Sakhi Sultan and demanded of the government to take speedy measures for arresting the unknown culprits. "We are going to give a call for strike across the country and would ask PBC as well as bar councils in the provinces to boycott the court proceeding," Murtaza told reporters at his office in the Supreme Court.
Murtaza said he had already demanded of the government to ensure security to the judges and lawyers across the country in view the prevailing law and order situation. However both the federal and the provincial governments failed to take into account his request.
Pakistan Bar Council, Balochistan High Court Bar Association and Balochistan Bar Association announced mourning and boycott of court proceedings for two days. Vice-Chairman PBC Muhammad Ramzan Chaudhry requested the legal fraternity throughout Pakistan to observe complete strike on Saturday, the 21st June, 2014 to condemn the target killing of Sultan.
He also urged lawyers to hold protest meetings of their respective bar associations to condemn this tragic incident. He demanded of the federal and provincial governments to arrest the culprits immediately and award them exemplary punishment.