Black coats get Black face finally
President, PM condemn attack - Govt sets up team to probe incident - Lawyer leaders fell embarrassed
Bureau Report

LAHORE—The black coat, the so-called custodians of justice, the violent and mafia styled lawyers community of Islamic Republic of Pakistan finally exposed its black face to the nation and the world when they shamelessly hiding behind the notices a sort of naked democracy, attacked former Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affair, Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi, a person, not a young violent and aggressive politician but a respected and seasoned parliamentarian with 70 years of age.
The so-called custodians of justice and so-called supporters of judiciary, who actually expose themselves as crony and rascals of first order attacked former Federal Minister outside a hotel in Lahore when the 70 years old Niazi a chronic heart patient was visiting some friends. These mafia men operating under the banner of Supreme Court Bar Association, not only aggressively and violently attacked physically Dr. Niazi but the made a crystal clear attempt to murder an innocent citizen while continuing to raise slogans including ‘kill him, butcher him, finish him’.
Whey they were trying to kill him, butcher him, finish him was that they believe that he was the support of the one who fired former Chief Justice from his post. One wonders that can the revenge of losing some bodies official job can be taken by taking somebody’s life even not responsible for it? It was nothing else but a crystal clear murder attempt.
Nation is in shock that the so-called custodians of dispensement of justice put all the laws and regulations aside and made crystal clear attempt to take an innocent citizen’s life. They say is this the ‘real democracy’? They believe if this is start of ‘real democracy’ in Pakistan. What worst cannot be expected in future.
Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi, a 70-years old parliamentarian, was a victim of a murder attempt on Tuesday evening at Lahore when a ‘gang’ attacked him to kill at Mozang Road, Lahore. Afgan, was surrounded ouside building on Mozang Road where he had gone to visit a friend. Those who surrounded and besieged him were no criminals, no mafia men, no political cronies of someone but were, the otherwise custodians of justice, peace and harmony, the lawyers of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Soon after the news of Sher Afgan, being in sensitive situation, a unit of police officials reached to the spot. The police discovered that Sher Afgan was having a sudden cardiac arrest. The cops appealed to the over charged lawyers to give a safe passage to the dying person to be taken to the hospital. However, the vultures in the black coat paid no attention to the cops’ appeal and while the ailing Afgan was taken the ambulance he was targeted by the mob of lawyers amidst the slogans of ‘kill him, butcher him, finish him’.
The honourable custodians of justice not only tortured the patient savagely and brutally but also destroyed the ambulance, a unique case of in humanity as ambulances are spared and protected even the enemies during the war. Later, the patient was shifted to another ambulance from where he was taken to the hospital where his condition is reported to be critical till filing of this report.
Agencies add: A mob of furious lawyers on Tuesday evening manhandled former Federal Minister Sher Afgan Khan Niazi who had detained for hours in a local hotel here at Mazang road.The incident occurred when Sher Afgan went to meet a local advocate Malik Noor Muhammad Awan for some personal matter where a large number of angry lawyers gathered and tried to attack him.
The lawyers also threw rotten eggs on Sher Afgan. However he rushed to escape and took shelter in a nearby local hotel where he remained for more than three hours. After hearing the news of the incident Aitzaz Ahsan President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), Anwar Kamal President Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), Manzoor Qadir President Lahore District Bar Association (LDBA) and other lawyer leaders reached the spot and tried to solve the issue. SSP Operation Lahore and high officials of police also remained present to tackle the situation. Aitzaz and other leaders talked for a long time with the lawyers and Sher Afgan but when Sher Afgan came out from the hotel some persons again assaulted him.
Sher Afgan was also tortured by some persons while he was being shifted in an Edhi Ambulance. The mob broke the sidescreens of the ambulance while some persons also manhandled Aitzaz Ahsan. After hectic efforts of police officials, Rescue 1122 and the lawyers, Sher Afgan was shifted to a safe place. PML-Q president and former PM, Chaudhry Shujaat, and leader of the opposition in Punjab, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi have also condemned the bloody assault on Sher Afgan. In a statement both have berated lawyers as being the most unruly and rowdy crowd, for subjecting an aging and ailing politician, suffering with cardiac problems, to brutal torture.
They said that the very self proclaimed custodians of law and legal fraternity, by keeping the former federal minister restricted to the chambers of his advocate, and were chagrined at the violent attitude of lawyers despite pleadings by Aitizaz Ahsan. Meanwhile President Musharraf has telephoned the Punjab Governor, Lt. Gen (Retd) Khalid Maqbool and gave him strict directives to provide Dr. Sher Afgan with full protection.
Dr. Khalid Maqbool rushed to Sher Afgan’s Model Town residence and accompanied Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi to Governor House. A relative of the brutalized Sher Afgan affirmed his (Dr. Sher Afgan’s) good health, and avoided any further comments over the issue.
All major politicians have strongly condemned the recent brutal attack on Dr. Sher Afgan. Former Law minister Wasi Zafar has strongly condemned the attack on a veteran and ailing minister, who even supported the deposed CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, calling it as a shameful and nefarious action. Former CM, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, who cited his peaceful tenure, has also voiced similar condemnations, blaming the current government of Punjab for being involved in the attack.
Maulana Fazl-Ur-Rehman, Sharif brothers and PKMP chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai have also condemned the incident, calling the lawyers to cease their movement with immediate effect, and ensure purging their fraternity of all black sheep. All have expressed their deep shame and embarrassment at the incident, which has brought great shame to the Country.
According to details, Dr. Sher Afghan Niazi had come to visit one of his relative in Lahore Chamber. When the lawyers got wind about the presence of Dr. Sher Afghan Niazi, they gathered outside the chamber and besieged him. Hundreds of the lawyers were chanting slogans holding eggs and tomatoes, while the police arrived on the occasion after a lapse of more than three hours and even so no more than a silent spectator failing to create a safe passage for Dr. Afgan. President Supreme Court Bar Association, Chaudhry Aitizaz also arrived on the occasion to control the situation, and requested lawyers and media to leave the place. When Dr. Afgan, escorted by Aitzaz , came out of the building and moved towards the Edhi ambulance struggling through the crowd, the infuriated lawyers showered slaps and harassed him, while the mob also smashed the window pans of the Edhi vehicle and continued slapping and hitting him in his head, due to which , he suffered head injuries.