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Special Thanks of the Jury to Dawn.
From
the total death toll of at least 70, 54 individuals were from the legal
community. We take a closer look at the lives of these lawyers activists, husbands, fathers and sons.
Advocate Bilal Anwar Kasi
Over 20 years into practice
Bilal
Anwar Kasi was serving president of the Balochistan
Bar Association when he was fatally shot by gunmen on Quetta's Mano Jan
road. Doctors said Advocate Kasi's body was riddled with 10 bullets. It
was his killing that prompted lawyers to gather at the Civil Hospital
Quetta's emergency ward, where a suicide attack took their lives as
well.
In
total, seven members from the Kasi tribe were killed in the blast that
shook Balochistan's capital.
An
expert in criminal law cases, Advocate Kasi was 46 years old.
Advocate Baz Muhammad Kakar
Over 20 years into practice
Baz
Muhammad Kakar was a former president of the Balochistan Bar Association.
Advocate
Kakar played an important role in the
lawyers' movement in Balochistan and was
arrested in 2007 after the Musharraf regime declared emergency in the
country.
He
remained an activist and campaigned for rule of law in Pakistan.
His
son Aryan Khan Kakar tells Dawn
that, �my father used to
love me and I loved him too. Like my father, I also want to become a
bold lawyer.�
Advocate
Kakar did his LLB from Law College, Quetta
and also pursued a postgraduate degree in Physics from the University
of Balochistan.
He was 45 years old.
Advocate Chakar Rind
11 years into practice
Hailing
from Turbat in Balochistan's
Kech District, Chakar
Rind, 38, obtained his LLB and Masters in Sociology from Law College,
Quetta. Advocate Rind was an active political worker and a member of
the Baloch Students Organisation's central
committee.
"His
aim was to serve his people and provide a helping hand to anyone in
need. This is why he chose law as profession,� recalls his brother Chakar
Baloch.
�I feel proud to be the brother of someone who spent his life
living for others and who found happiness in helping them.�
Advocate Qahir Shah
22 years into practice
Qahir Shah's summary for
the slot of Advocate General Balochistan was
signed just two days before he was killed. It is no surprise that he
was considered for the post; the legal fraternity of Quetta says he was
an outspoken and competent lawyer.
Advocate
Shah was a graduate of Law College, Quetta and served as legal adviser
to the Quetta Municipal Corporation.
He was 48 years old.
Advocate Adnan Kasi
10 years into practice
A
young barrister, Adnan Kasi had been practising
the trade for more than a decade. He did his bar-at-law from the
University of Buckingham, England, and served as the principal of Law
College, Quetta during the Pakistan Peoples
Party (PPP)-led government in Balochistan.
Prior
to his death, Barrister Kasi was campaigning for the post of general
secretary in the upcoming election of the Balochistan
High Court Bar Association. He was 38 years
old.
Advocate Dawood Kasi
16 years into practice
A
dynamic lawyer, Advocate Kasi was a passionate campaigner for the rule
of law in the country. He took active part in the movement for the
restoration of judges and former chief justice Iftikhar
Muhammad Chaudhry.
A
graduate in LLB from Law College, Quetta, he was elected president of
the Balochistan Bar Association in 2014.
He
was 40 years of age.
Advocate Gul Zareen Kasi
4 years into practice
Gul
Zareen Kasi believed in forming a fair
juvenile justice system in Pakistan and worked with child protection
agencies Sanjog and the Society for the
Protection of the Rights of the Child.
He
was also a member of the American Bar Council, where he held moot
courts and occasionally attended events as chief guest.
"Gul
Zareen was always smiling,� recalls Sajid Tareen,
former president of the Balochostan High
Court Bar Association. �His personality
is unforgettable.�
He was 34 years old.
Advocate Askar Khan Achakzai
7 years into practice
At
32 years of age, Askar Khan Achakzai was already one of Quetta's most dynamic
lawyers.
Advocate
Achakzai was affiliated with the Awami National Party (ANP) and was the younger brother
of Asghar Khan Achakzai,
the president of ANP Balochistan.
"He
was a great friend and brother,�
Asghar says.
�He always stood for political principles and challenged
established perceptions.�
Advocate Sangat Jamaldini
16 years into practice
Sangat Jamaldini was candidate for finance secretary for
the upcoming elections at the Balochistan
High Court Bar Association.
�Sangat
wanted to be a session judge and dispense justice without
discrimination,� says his cousin Sardarzad Shehzad Mengal. �He
used to tell me there are many flaws in our justice system, and that
when he becomes a judge, he would make sure that he worked to
strengthen the judiciary.�
His
cousin remembers Advocate Jamaldini as a
self-made lawyer: �Though
his father was a senator, he never used his father's car. He waited to
buy his own.�
He
was 35 years old.
Advocate Jamal Abdul Naseer
12 years into practice
Jamal
Abdul Naseer, 42, was an active member of the
legal fraternity in its struggle for the restoration of deposed judges.
Before
his life was cut short, Advocate Naseer was campaigning
for the establishment of a professional lawyers' forum in Quetta.
"I
cannot forget Jamal's smiling face", says senior lawyer Advocate Munir Ahmed Kakar.
�Jamal was my friend and colleague. I am going to miss him very
much.�
Advocate Qazi Bashir
19 years into practice
Qazi Bashir completed
his LLB from Law College, Quetta. He was also an active political
worker and secretary at the lawyers' wing of the National Party.
Advocate
Bashir's wife is an assistant professor at a girls' college in Quetta.
The couple strongly believed in providing the best available education
for their children.
�Qazi
was a great person,� says
National Party's Dr Ishaq
Baloch. �He
was an asset for the entire Baloch nation.�
He
was 46 years old.
Advocate Ghulam Muhammad
5 years into practice
Ghulam
Muhammad, 32, graduated from Sibi Law College
in 2011 and went on to do his Masters in Commerce from the University
of Balochistan.
Advocate
Muhammad worked hard for his family. Despite financial constraints, he
enrolled all of his six children into English medium schools.
His
elder son Muhammad Naeem, in fourth grade,
vows to complete his education.
Advocate Jamil ur Rehman Qazi
11 years into practice
Jamil
ur Rehman Qazi moved recently to Quetta in search for a safer
base for his family, after he was seriously injured in Khuzdar in 2013 when gunmen opened fire on him,
hitting three bullets in his leg.
"Can
you imagine our misfortune? We migrated from Khuzdar
for protection but we lost our beloved son here in Quetta," says
his father Qazi Abdul Hameed.
Advocate
Qazi was 40 years old.
Advocate Malik Wazeer Kasi
9 years into practice
An
energetic lawyer, Malik Wazeer Kasi had the
spirit of an activist and took part in the movement for the restoration
of deposed judges during the Musharraf regime.
Advocate
Kasi was 37 years old.
Advocate Qaiser Sherani Khan
4 years into practice
Qaiser Sherani Khan belonged to Sherani
district, one of the most underdeveloped areas of Balochistan.
He
obtained his LLB from Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan.
"Qaiser was a humble and competent lawyer,"
recalls his relative Akhtar Shah Sherani, who
also serves as Qazi in Balochistan's
Dasht area.
Advocate
Khan was 30 years old.
Advocate Muhammad Imran
Sheikh
5 years into practice
Muhammad
Imran Sheikh did his LLM and LLB for Law College, Quetta.
Colleague
Akram Shah remembers Advocate Sheikh as a
committed and hard working man.
�In a short time, Imran made a good name for himself in the legal
fraternity.�
He was 31 years old.
Advocate Rehmat Kharotai
6 years into practice
Rehmat Kharotai graduated from Law College, Quetta. He
also earned a Masters degree in international
relations from the University of Balochistan.
�Kharotai
was an extremely competent lawyer,�
says Khalil Ahmed Panezai, a senior lawyer
who worked with him.
He was 32 years old.
Advocate Mir Mehmood Ahmed Lehri
10 years into practice
Mir
Mehmood Ahmed Lehri
was a graduate of Law College, Quetta and also held a Masters degree in international relations.
Advocate
Lehri was 43 years old.
Advocate Muhammad Saleem Butt
29 years into practice
Muhammad
Saleem Butt did his LLB from Law College, Quetta
and Master in political science from the University of Balochistan.
Apart
from practising law, Advocate Butt was also
die-hard PP worker.
He was 54 years old.
Advocate Bashir Ahmed Zehri
14 years into practice
Bashir
Ahmed Zehri earned his LLB from Law College,
Quetta.
�He was a philanthropist and fought cases for voiceless clients
without charging any fee,�
recalls Advocate Zehri's relative Ejaz Ahmed.
He was 50 years old.
Advocate Syed Ghani Jan
Agha
16 years into practice
Syed
Ghani Jan Agha belonged to Killi Paizai Syedan area of Killa Abdullah and completed his LLB from Law
College, Quetta.
Advocate
Agha had a strong political vision and was an executive member of the Pashtoonkhwa Students Organisation
for more than 10 years.
�I cannot forget his face. He was my friend and brother. A lovely
soul,� says lawyer and friend Zafar Mullazai.
He was 52 years old.
Advocate Naseer Langove
5 years into practice
Naseer Langove did his LLB from Law College, Quetta. After
becoming a member of the Balochistan Bar
Association, Advocate Langove quickly earned
a reputation of being a dynamic lawyer.
He was 32 years old.
Advocate Muhibullah
10 years into
practice
Muhibullah was a graduate of
Law College, Quetta.
His
colleague Khalil Panezai describes Advocate Muhibullah as a dedicated and hard
working lawyer.
He was 39 years old.
Advocate Nooruddin Rakhshani
15 years into practice
Nooruddin Rakhshani was an active member of the lawyers'
movement and an advocate for rule of law.
He was 45 years old.
Advocate Manzar Siddique
19 years into practice
Manzar Siddique, 46, is
remembered by his colleagues as a humble and supportive lawyer who
spoke for the marginalised sections of
society.
Advocate Noorullah Kakar
16 years into practice
Noorullah Kakar was a graduate of Law College, Quetta and a
member of the Balochistan Bar Association.
Advocate Kakar was originally from Pishin.
He
was 39 years old.
Advocate Munir Ahmed Mengal
11 years into practice
Munir Ahmed Mengal is remembered by his colleagues as a
compassionate soul who worked for the marginalised.
He was 46 years old.
Advocate Naqeebullah Tareen
1 year into practice
Naqeebullah Tareen is remembered
by his colleagues as a �thorough
gentleman�.
He was 31 years old.
Advocate Muhammad Ayub Sadozai
17 years into practice
Muhammad
Ayub Sadozai served
as an additional session judge in Gwadar.
Advocate
Sadozai then returned to Quetta, where he
worked as a lawyer.
He was 44 years old.
Advocate Attaullah Kakar
12 years into practice
Attaullah Kakar was an active member of the Balochistan Bar Association and a powerful voice in
favour of strengthening judicial
institutions.
40
years of age, Advocate Kakar completed his
LLB from Law College, Quetta.
Advocate Hafeezullah Mengal
3 years into practice
Hafeezullah Mengal was son of former Balochistan
High Court Chief Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mengal.
He was 36 years old.
Advocate Hafeezullah Khan Mandokhail
Under a year into practice
Hafeezullah Khan Mandokhail was a graduate of Law College, Quetta.
He
was 32 years old and full of dreams about his life as a lawyer.
Advocate Ghani Mashwani
14 years into practice
Ghani
Mashwani was a graduate of Law College,
Quetta and was mentored by respected lawyer Muhammad Aslam Chishti.
Advocate
Ghani was 44 years old.
Advocate Muhammad Ashraf Sulehri
16 years into practice
Aside
from being a lawyer, Muhammad Ashraf Sulehri
was also a well-known artist in Quetta.
"Sulehri was an asset for Balochistan
and Pakistan," says artist Amanullah Nasar.
Advocate
Sulehri was 56 years old.
Advocate Bashir Ahmed Kakar
8 years into practice
33
years of age, Bashir Ahmed Kakar did his LLB
degree from Law College, Quetta.
Advocate
Kakar belonged to Balochistan's
Pishin district. "Bashir was indeed a
voice for the voiceless,�
said his uncle Haji Mauladad Kakar.
�We are socially and politically broken after Bashir's death.�
Advocate Ainuddin Nasar
10 years into practice
Ainuddin Nasar graduated from Law College, Quetta. He was a
well-liked figure in the lawyer community for his jovial personality.
He was 42 years old.
Syed Ziauddin
2 years into
practice
Syed
Ziauddin belonged to Balochistan's
Pishin district. He did his LLB from the
International Islamic University, Islamabad.
He
was 26 years of age.
Advocate Ghulam Haider Kakar
2 months into practice
Ghulam
Haider Kakar hailed
from Balochistan's Killa
Saifullah district. Advocate Kakar did his LLB from Law College, Quetta.
He
was 37 years old.
Advocate Aimal Khan Watanyar
1 year into practice
Aimal Khan Watanyar did his LLB from the Islamic International
University, Islamabad.
He
was only 23 years old.
Advocate Abdullah Achakzai
4 years into practice
Abdullah
Achakzai was 39 years of age and a supporter
of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N).
Advocate Muhammad Ali Satakzai
16 years into practice
Muhammad
Ali Satakzai, 45, was a session judge in
Quetta.
Advocate Sarfaraz Sheikh
11 years into practice
Sarfaraz Sheikh was a
graduate of Law College, Quetta.
He was 42 years old.
Advocate Abdul Nasir Kakar
13 years into practice
Abdul
Nasir Kakar earned his LLB from Law College,
Quetta.
He was 43 years old.
Advocate Waqas Khan Jadoon
4 years into practice
Waqas Khan Jadoon was a graduate of Law College, Quetta.
He was 31 years old.
Advocate Taimoor Shah Kakar
1 year into practice
Taimoor Shah Kakar was 29 years old.
Advocate Arthur Victor
14 years into practice
Arthur
Victor was 39 years of age.
Advocate Sher Gul Davi
4 years into practice
Sher
Gul Davi obtained his LLB from Law College,
Quetta.
He was 29 years old.
Advocate Feroz Khan
17 years into practice
Feroz Khan was 44 years
of age and started practising law in Quetta
in 1999.
Advocate Sabir Ali
2 years into practice
Sabir
Ali was 29 years old.
Advocate Ghulam Farooq Badini
3 years into practice
Ghulam
Farooq Badini was 35 years of age.
Advocate Amanullah Langove
13 years into practice
Amanullah Langove was 30 years old.
Advocate Faizullah Khan Sargarah
28 years into practice
Faizullah Khan Sargarah earned his LLB from Law College, Quetta.
He was 62 years old.
Advocate Ghousuddin
13 years into practice
Ghousuddin was 41 years old.
Advocate Abdul Rashid
26 years into practice
Abdul
Rashid did his LLB from Law College, Quetta.
He was 48 years old.
Project
director: Atika Rehman
Reporting:
Syed Ali Shah
Story
editing: Jahanzeb Hussain, Munnazzah Raza, Hufsa
Chaudhry, Hajrah Mumtaz,
Fatema Imani and Fahad Naveed
Design
and concept: Fahad Naveed
Additional
research: Aiman Hashmi
Additional
reporting: Shah Meer
Video:
Hafeezullah Sherani
Video
editing: Aamir Baig,
Kamran Nafees and Hussain Afzal
Photos:
AFP | Lawyers' photos courtesy their families
Social media: Ema
Anis
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