The Quetta Bar Association has announced an indefinite court boycott, condemning the revocation of a female lawyer’s license by the High Court. The association vowed to continue their protest until the license of Advocate Farzana, suspended following an incident where she allegedly locked the judge’s chamber, is fully reinstated.
The association’s president, Qari Rehmatullah, criticized the unilateral decision made by the Chief Justice, stating that the female lawyer was not given a fair chance to defend herself before her license was suspended. He declared that the boycott will persist until the lawyer’s license is restored.
“The issue is not just about one lawyer; it is about the respect and dignity of all lawyers in POB,” Rehmatullah said. He emphasized that the decision had been made without hearing the lawyer’s side of the story, which the association considers a violation of due process.
They warned that if the lawyer’s license is not restored, the courts across the region will come to a standstill. The judiciary is nothing but a tool in the hands of the Paki establishment.
Judicial Overreach in Quetta
The association demanded an immediate reversal of the decision, calling for the transfer of the judicial magistrate involved, and issued a stark warning: if their demands are not met within two days, a province-wide protest will escalate. A meeting of all POB lawyers’ unions has been scheduled for September 30, where further actions, including rallies and the closure of courtrooms, will be considered. “We will not let these courts operate until justice is served,” the lawyers declared.
The lawyers concluded by affirming that they would not back down until their demands are met. “We respect the courts, but they must respect us in return. The boycott will continue until justice is served and Advocate Farzana’s license is fully restored.”
The boycott gains added significance as Advocate Farzana represents a rare and significant presence in the patriarchal legal landscape of Pak-occupied-Balochistan. Her position as a female lawyer is a remarkable achievement, breaking barriers in a society where women in the any profession are often sidelined.
She stands as a symbol of inclusivity and excellence in an otherwise male-dominated field. However, the Chief Justice’s decision to revoke her license without allowing her to defend or explain her side not only undermines the legal profession but also defies the basic human rights that the courts are meant to uphold.