Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party Marks 8th August 2016 Tragedy, Urges Implementation of Judicial Inquiry Recommendations

Quetta:The central secretariat of the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party (PNAAP) issued a statement marking **August 8, 2016**, as a **tragic day** in history, when **74 prominent lawyers** from the Quetta Bar were martyred in a terrorist attack. Over **100 other lawyers** were severely wounded in the attack, which led to the **loss of the senior lawyer community** of Pashtun and Balochistan, depriving the people of these regions of a key institution of justice and legal representation.

Among the **martyrs** were renowned figures like **Bilal Anwar Kasi, Baz Mohammad Kakar, Qahir Shah, Sangat Jamaldini, Adnan Kasi, Ghani Jan Agha**, and **Askar Khan Achakzai**, who were well-known for their proud struggle for the supremacy of the constitution, rule of law, and justice in the country.

In the aftermath, a **Judicial Inquiry Commission** was formed under the leadership of **Justice Faiz Essa** to investigate the incident. In just **54 days**, the commission published a **110-page report** on **December 13, 2016**, which labeled the tragic attack as **state-sponsored terrorism**. The report highlighted that from **2001 to 2016**, over **17,000 terrorism incidents** had occurred across the country, with more than **3,000 incidents** in Balochistan alone. The report held **security institutions** accountable for these attacks, asserting that terrorist leaders had openly continued their activities with the backing of **federal ministers** and responsible security officers.

Justice Faiz Essa’s report also recommended the **training of a new generation of lawyers**, compensation for the affected families, and effective measures to prevent terrorism. However, it was **regrettable** that the **Supreme Court** did not take action on the report, and security agencies completely ignored the findings and recommendations.

The statement pointed out that since the tragic incident, terrorist activities in **Pashtunkhwa and Balochistan** have continued unabated, resulting in the loss of thousands of innocent lives. The report further criticized the ongoing **state terrorism** imposed on the region, with the **21st military operation** still underway, aimed at displacing the Pashtun population and exploiting the region’s rich **natural resources, forests**, and **fertile lands**.

The statement emphasized that despite ongoing military operations, the **brave people of Pashtunkhwa** continue their struggle for the defense of their land and the preservation of their national existence.

The Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party called on the **Supreme Court** to ensure the implementation of all recommendations made in **Justice Faiz Essa’s report** and to **address the legitimate demands** of the **Lawyers Bar Association**.

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