Former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and renowned jurist Abdul Latif Afridi has been assassinated on Monday in a firing incident inside the Peshawar High Court bar room.
Despite the regular tight deployment of forces at the entrance of the high court, the incident took place when Latif Afridi was sitting with other lawyers in the bar room when a gunman opened fire at him.
According to Geo News, the lawyer was shot six times. Latif Afridi was 79.
The assailant is currently in police custody. “The police have arrested the accused and identified him as Adnan Afridi,” the officer said, revealing that the attacker was related to the slain jurist. Adnan is the son of Judge Aftab Afridi who was killed in 2021.
It is pertinent to mention that Latif Afridi was acquitted in the murder case of Adnan’s father.
In 2021, the judge was attacked as unknown assailants opened fire on his car. However, Latif, the then-SCBA president, had denied his involvement in the incident and assured his full cooperation in the investigation.
A few media reports have said that the police have termed the murder a matter of personal enmity between the two families while further investigations are underway.
However, several politicians and journalists came forward to condemn the attack.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and grief over the “brutal killing” of the senior lawyer.
“I pray that the bereaved family bear this loss with fortitude. The worsening law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is alarming,” the PM noted, adding that the provincial government should take immediate measures in this regard.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan also expressed his condolences and prayers.
Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari condemned the murder, calling Latif a strong supporter of democracy and a staunch opponent of extremism.
Other politicians also condemned the tragic episode.
Similarly, lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir, Journalist Asma Shirazi, and others expressed grief at the killing.
