Pak lawyers boycott courts over Karachi violence

Lahore/Karachi, Apr 11 : Lawyers in the principal cities of Lahore and Karachi today boycotted court proceedings in protest against Wednesday's violence in Karachi.

The protests came even as funeral prayers were being offered for the victims of the violence.

Protesting lawyers marched upto the Lower Mall chanting slogans over riots and killings of lawyers in Karachi.

Later they staged a demonstration at the Poli Mortgage Group (PMG) Square and offered funeral prayers in absentia.

The Lahore High Court Bar lawyers also offered funeral prayers in absentia.

Friday's protests were an offshoot of the manhandling of former Law Minister Sher Afgan Niazi Khan on Tuesday. At least six people were killed and seven injured in the violence in Karachi, following an armed clash outside the Malir Bar. Forty vehicles were torched across the city. A building at the Tahir Plaza at MA Jinnah Road with lawyers' offices was also torched. The Malir Bar Association building was also set on fire. The attack on Niazi and the violence that occurred in Karachi on Wednesday invited widespread condemnation from political leaders, cutting across party lines.

ANI