Syed Ali Shah, Manan Mandokhail:
QUETTA: The eighth death anniversary of Quetta’s lawyers, who were martyred on August 8, 2016, was observed on Thursday with deep reverence. The Shaheed Baz Muhammad Foundation organized a seminar at a private hotel in Quetta to honor the memory of the fallen lawyers, who lost their lives in a tragic terrorist attack. The event saw a significant turnout from the political and legal communities across Pakistan, particularly from Balochistan.
The seminar was attended by a wide array of dignitaries, including Dr. Malik Baloch, former Chief Minister of Balochistan; Sanaullah Baloch, former member of the Provincial Assembly; Malik Wali Kakar, former Governor of Balochistan; Sher Afzal Marwat, Member of the National Assembly (PTI); Khushal Khan Kakar, Chairman of Pashtun National Awami Party (PNAP), Abdul Mateen Akhundzada, and Dr. Lal Khan Kakar, Founder of the Shaheed Baz Muhammad Foundation.
Honoring the Legacy of Martyrs
In his address, Sher Afzal Marwat highlighted the gravity of the tragedy, stating, “The tragedy of August 8th is a dark day in our history. We lost an entire generation of brilliant lawyers, but I take solace in the fact that the Shaheed Baz Muhammad Foundation has turned this grief into a beacon of hope by establishing libraries where hundreds of children are receiving free education.”
Dr. Malik Baloch, while addressing the gathering, expressed his profound sorrow, “We lost the very cream of our legal fraternity on August 8th. These lawyers were the defenders of justice, and their loss is irreplaceable. However, the spirit of the legal profession remains unbroken, and the people continue to hold this profession in high esteem.”
Khushal Khan Kakar of the Pashtun National Awami Party underscored the lasting impact of the tragedy on Balochistan’s judicial system. “The lawyers who were martyred on August 8th were the pillars of our judiciary. The void left by their martyrdom will be felt for generations. Their dedication to the rule of law remains an inspiration to us all.”
Afzal Harifal, President of the Balochistan High Court Bar, along with Abdul Mateen Akhundzada and Dr. Lal Khan Kakar, also paid their respects to the martyrs. Dr. Kakar, reflecting on the personal loss, remarked, “August 8th was nothing short of an apocalypse for us. We lost over 50 lawyers, including my dear brother Baz Muhammad Shaheed, who were all dedicated to upholding justice.
