Supreme Court Bar President and Lawyers Remember Martyrs of August 8 Tragedy on 9th Anniversary

Quetta, Pakistan:On the 9th anniversary of the tragic August 8, 2016, bombing, prominent lawyers, including the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Mian Mohammad Raouf Ata Advocate, and other senior legal figures, gathered at the Balochistan High Court to pay tribute to the 56 lawyers martyred in the attack. The event was organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Balochistan High Court Bar Association, Balochistan Bar Council, and Pakistan Bar Council.

During the condolence reference, the speakers condemned the ongoing delays in justice for the victims, emphasizing that despite nine years having passed, the perpetrators of the tragedy had yet to be brought to trial. The lawyers expressed frustration over the failure to properly protect and prosecute the attackers, pointing out that the martyrs were killed in a so-called “encounter” after being captured instead of being presented before the courts.

Mian Mohammad Raouf Ata, along with other speakers, made strong statements regarding the failure to address the issues of enforced disappearances and other systemic problems that remain unresolved. He criticized the 26th Amendment, calling it a “mockery” of the Constitution and laws of Pakistan, and claimed that it had contributed significantly to the country’s destabilization.

“Today, we stand united as a legal fraternity,” said Ata. “We are Pakistanis first, but our tribe, our identity, is that of lawyers. No one can weaken us. Those who are trying to spread chaos can be defeated through our unity. The killers of our brothers and sisters in the August 8 incident remain unpunished. This is a violation of every principle of justice.”

He further noted that despite the tragic loss of 56 lawyers, the legal community in Balochistan had grown stronger, with membership rising from a few hundred to over 4,000 lawyers today. “The attack on us was meant to break us, but instead, it has united us even more,” he added.

The speakers emphasized that the lawyers’ struggle for justice is not limited to Balochistan but extends across the entire country. They also voiced their dissatisfaction with the lack of investigation into the incident, noting that the report regarding the August 8 tragedy had never been made public.

“We are not satisfied with the investigation of the August 8 tragedy, and neither are we satisfied with the judiciary at that time,” said one of the speakers. “We fought for judicial independence, and we will continue to fight for the rule of law. We will protect the dignity, security, and honor of our fellow lawyers.”

A solemn prayer was held for the martyrs, and a charity distribution was carried out in their memory, with the lawyers reaffirming their commitment to complete the mission for which the martyrs gave their lives. They pledged to continue the fight for justice and legal reform, ensuring that the sacrifices of those who died will not be in vain.

The tragedy of August 8, 2016, continues to serve as a reminder of the courage and resilience of the legal community in the face of adversity, with lawyers vowing to uphold the rule of law and pursue justice relentlessly.