Sessions judge manhandled by suspended driver's family

The Second Additional District and Sessions Judge Sukkur and his family were allegedly manhandled on Friday night by women family members of the judge's driver who was suspended from his work. The family, meanwhile, cited an armed attack on the driver Kaleemullah Soomro as the reason for their protest outside the main entrance of the sessions court from where judge Javed Hussain Mirani happened to pass at around 9.30pm. Though no version came from the judge about the attack, the protesting legal fraternity of Sukkur blamed the police for weak security arrangements while demanding action against the people who manhandled the judge and his family. According to the lawyers, around 20 women and a couple of men were seen by the eye-witnesses outside the gate. The judges' residences are located in the court's premises. Judge Mirani, along with his family, was returning home from a market when they were surrounded at the court's entrance with women accusing him for attack on Soomro. The women allegedly misbehaved with the judge and his family. The judge had reportedly complained to the district and sessions judge about Soomro's repeated absence from work. A subsequent inquiry proved the charge after which Soomro was sent on leave from duty. Around half an hour before the incident at the court's entrance, Soomro was allegedly shot and injured by unknown attackers in a reported incident of robbery near Taj Hotel in Sukkur. Meanwhile, the C-Section police, in whose limits the incident happened, arrested Soomro's uncle Ghaus Bux Soomro from the hospital where the injured was admitted. Advocate Sachal Bhatti of the bar association said women were used so that judge can be accused of assaulting women. He praised judge for being brave and courageous, demanded better security for judges. Advocate Shafqat Raheem Rajput urged the district and sessions Judge Allah Bachayo to strengthen security in the court's premises so that the judges and their family members may feel secure. Advocate Humera Arain questioned how police can protect ordinary citizens when judges are not safe even in the court's premises.