Mastung attack: Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar, bodyguard martyred

WEB DESK: Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his bodyguard were martyred after unidentified armed men opened fire on their vehicle in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Wednesday, while two others, including an additional session judge, sustained injuries.

According to Mastung Deputy Commissioner Bahram Saleem, Judge Kakar was travelling from Quetta to Mastung when some unknown assailants targeted his vehicle and killed him and his guard on the national highway.

As a result of the firing, Judge Kakar and his bodyguard embraced martyrdom on the spot, while Additional Sessions Judge Tariq Lashari and another individual were seriously injured.

The bodies of the deceased and the injured were shifted to a hospital, while law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those involved in the attack.

Reacting to the incident, the Balochistan Bar Council termed the assault a terrorist attack on the justice system. It announced a two-day strike in courts across the province and declared three days of mourning.

The council also demanded the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and called for effective security measures to ensure the protection of judges, lawyers and the public.

Separately, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and Provincial Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove strongly condemned the attack, expressed grief over the loss of lives, and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

The provincial leadership directed the relevant authorities to bring those responsible to justice without delay.